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Public holidays in Italy are established by the Italian parliament and, with the exception of city or community patronal days, apply nationwide. [2] These include a mix of national, religious and local observances. As for Whit Monday, there is an exception for South Tyrol. In Italy there are also State commemoration days, which are not public holidays.
Italy's National Day, the Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day), [1] is celebrated on 2 June each year, with the main celebration taking place in Rome, and commemorates the birth of the Italian Republic in 1946. [3] The ceremony of the event organized in Rome includes the deposition of a laurel wreath as a tribute to the Italian Unknown Soldier at the Altare della Patria by the President of the Italian Republic and a military parade along Via dei Fori Imperiali in Rome.
Liberation Day is a national holiday in Italy that takes place on 25 April commemorating the victory of the Italian resistance movement against Nazi Germany and the Italian Social Republic, puppet state of the Nazis and rump state of the fascists, in the Italian Civil War, a civil war in Italy fought during World War II. The date was chosen by convention, as it was the day of the year in 1945 when the National Liberation Committee of Upper Italy (CLNAI) officially proclaimed the insurgency in a radio announcement, propounding the seizure of power by the CLNAI and proclaiming the death sentence for all fascist leaders (including Benito Mussolini, who was shot three days later). [4]
17 March was proclaimed a national holiday in 1911, the 50th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy, in 1961, the 100th anniversary of the Unification of Italy, and in 2011, the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy. The law no. 222 of 23 November 2012 [5] the Giornata dell'Unità nazionale, della Costituzione, dell'inno e della bandiera ("Day of National Unity, the Constitution, the anthem and the flag") was established to be celebrated on 17 March of each year, on the day of the proclamation of the Unification of Italy in 1861, however it is not to be considered a festive day.
Until 1977 the following were also considered public holidays in Italy for civil purposes: [6]
These public holidays were suppressed, during the austerity caused by the 1973 oil crisis, on the basis of the law n. 54 of 5 March 1977. [6] In particular, in 1977 National Unity and Armed Forces Day became a moveable feast, and celebrations occurred every first Sunday of November. [7] National Unity and Armed Forces Day is an Italian national day since 1919 which commemorates the victory in World War I, a war event considered the completion of the process of unification of Italy. It is celebrated every 4 November, which is the anniversary of the armistice of Villa Giusti becoming effective in 1918 declaring Austria-Hungary's surrender. [7] Italy entered World War I in 1915 with the aim of completing national unity and for this reason, the Italian intervention in World War I is also considered the Fourth Italian War of Independence, [8] in a historiographical perspective that identifies in the latter the conclusion of the unification of Italy, whose military actions began during the revolutions of 1848 with the First Italian War of Independence. [9] [10]
In addition to the 12 national holidays, each city or town celebrates a public holiday on the occasion of the festival of the local patron saint. For example, Rome on 29 June (Saints Peter and Paul), Milan on 7 December (Saint Ambrose), Naples on 19 September (Saint Januarius), Venice on 25 April (Saint Mark the Evangelist) and Florence on 24 June (Saint John the Baptist). [2] In South Tyrol, the holiday is instead on Whit Monday. This makes the total public holidays in Italy 13.
Natale di Roma, historically known as Dies Romana and also referred to as Romaia, is the festival linked to the foundation of Rome, celebrated on 21 April. [11] According to legend, Romulus is said to have founded the city of Rome on 21 April, 753 BC. From this date, the Roman chronology derived its system, known by the Latin phrase Ab Urbe condita , meaning "from the founding of the City", which counted the years from this presumed foundation.
The Italian national patronal day, on 4 October, celebrates Saints Francis and Catherine. Notable patronal festivals in Italy are the Festival of Saint Agatha in Catania, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome, the Feast of San Gennaro in Naples and Little Italy, New York [12] and the Feast of Our Lady of the Hens in Pagani.
This number does not correspond to the number of days off work as public holidays falling on weekends are not transferred. When a holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday it is common practice to make a ponte (pl. ponti. English: "bridge") in order to have a long weekend. Schools are usually closed.
Christmas in Italy (in Italian: Natale) begins on 8 December, with the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the day on which traditionally the Christmas tree is mounted and ends on 6 January, of the following year with the Epiphany (in Italian: Epifania). [13] The term "Natale" derives from the Latin natalis, which literally means "birth". [14] Easter in Italy (Italian : Pasqua) is one of that country's major holidays. [15] Easter in Italy enters Holy Week with Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, concluding with Easter Day and Easter Monday. Each day has a special significance.
During the Italian public holidays, peaks of tourist flows in Italy are recorded, particularly in winter due to the Christmas and New Year's Day holidays, [16] in spring, due to the Easter holidays, [17] and in summer, due to the favourable climate. [18] For internal tourism, peaks of tourist flows are also recorded on the occasion of the three national civil holidays, Liberation Day (25 April), International Workers' Day (1 May) and the Festa della Repubblica (2 June), [19] [20] as well as for three religious holidays, the Ferragosto (15 August), [21] All Saints' Day (1 November) [22] and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (8 December), especially in the presence of ponti. [23]
Current holidays in Italy are: [25]
| Date | English Name | Italian Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Every Sunday including Easter [a] | In Italy, Sunday is always a public holiday [b] | ||
| Variable [c] | Patronal festival | Festa del santo patrono | Public holiday established by each comune limited to its own territory to celebrate the saint who has the role of patron saint of the municipality. Whit Sunday in South Tyrol and Saints Peter and Paul in Rome are fixed by law. |
| 1 January | New Year's Day | Capodanno | |
| 6 January | Epiphany | Epifania | |
| Monday after Easter | Easter Monday | Lunedì dell'Angelo, Lunedì in Albis or more commonly Pasquetta | |
| 25 April | Liberation Day | Festa della Liberazione | The day commemorates the victory in 1945 of the Italian resistance movement against Nazi Germany and the Italian Social Republic, puppet state of the Nazis and rump state of the fascists, in the Italian Civil War, a civil war fought in Italy during World War II. |
| 1 May | Labour Day | Festa del Lavoro (or Festa dei Lavoratori) | |
| 2 June | Republic Day | Festa della Repubblica | The day commemorates the institutional referendum held by universal suffrage in 1946, in which the Italian people were called to the polls to decide on the form of government following World War II and the fall of Fascism. The day is one of the national symbols of Italy. |
| 15 August | Assumption Day | Assunzione (Ferragosto) | Ferragosto is a public holiday celebrated on 15 August in all of Italy. It originates from Feriae Augusti ("Festivals [Holidays] of the Emperor Augustus"), the festival of Augustus, who made 1 August a day of rest after weeks of hard work on the agricultural sector. As the festivity was created for political reasons, the Catholic Church decided to move the festivity to 15 August which is the Assumption of Mary allowing them to include this in the festivity. |
| 1 November | All Saints' Day | Tutti i santi (or Ognissanti) | |
| 8 December | Immaculate Conception | Immacolata Concezione (or just Immacolata) | |
| 25 December | Christmas Day | Natale | |
| 26 December | Saint Stephen's Day | Santo Stefano | In Italy, Saint Stephen's Day became a public holiday in 1947, where previously it was a normal working day; the Catholic Church also celebrates it as a religious holiday, even if not as a precept, as it is in Germany and other German-speaking countries. The reason for the public holiday in Italy, not required by the Catholic Church despite the fame of the saint, is to be found in the intention of prolonging the Christmas holiday, creating two consecutive public holidays, which also happens in the case of Easter Monday, a non-religious holiday, but which only wants to lengthen Easter. [26] Before 1947 the two days were working days, with banks and offices open. |
The following days are not public holidays, but are nevertheless official State commemorations. [1] [25]
| Date | English Name | Italian Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 February | National Memorial Day of the Exiles and Foibe | Giorno del ricordo | Made a national day by law no. 92 of 30 March 2004. [27] It is an Italian celebration for the memory of the victims of the Foibe and the Istrian–Dalmatian exodus, which led to the emigration of hundreds of thousands (between 230,000 to 350,000) of local ethnic Italians (Istrian Italians and Dalmatian Italians) from Yugoslavia after the end of World War II. |
| 11 February | Lateran Treaty Day [1] | Patti Lateranensi | Treaty between the Kingdom of Italy and the Holy See establishing, among others, the recognition of the Vatican City as an independent state. |
| 9 September | Day of Remembrance for Sailors Lost at Sea | Giornata della memoria dei marinai scomparsi in mare | Made a national day by law no. 204 of 14 December 2012. [1] |
| 28 September | Four Days of Naples Day [1] | Insurrezione popolare di Napoli contro i nazifascisti or Quattro giornate di Napoli | It was an uprising in Naples against Nazi German occupation forces from September 27 to 30 September, 1943, immediately prior to the arrival of Allied forces in Naples on 1 October during World War II. |
| 4 October | Saint Francis and Saint Catherine | San Francesco e Santa Caterina | Made a national day by law no. 132 of 4 March 1958. [1] Patron saints of Italy.4/3/1958 n. |
| 4 November | National Unity and Armed Forces Day | Giorno dell'Unità Nazionale e Festa delle Forze Armate | A public holiday from its inception in 1919 till 1977, it commemorates the victory of Italy in World War I, a war event considered the completion of the process of unification of Italy. It is celebrated every 4 November, which is the anniversary of the armistice of Villa Giusti becoming effective in 1918 declaring Austria-Hungary's surrender. |
| 12 November | Remembrance day for military and civilian fallen in international peace missions | Giornata del ricordo dei Caduti militari e civili nelle missioni internazionali per la pace | Made a national day by law no. 162 of 12 November 2009. [1] |
| Date | English Name | Italian Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 January | Tricolour Day | Festa del tricolore | Flag day made a national day by law no. 671 of 31 December 1996. The official celebration of the day is held in Reggio Emilia, the city where the Italian tricolour was first adopted as flag by an Italian sovereign state, the Cispadane Republic, on 7 January 1797. |
| 26 January | National day of remembrance and sacrifice of the Alpini | Giornata nazionale della memoria e del sacrificio degli Alpini | Made a national day by law no. 44 of 5 May 2022. [1] |
| 27 January | International Holocaust Remembrance Day | Giorno della Memoria | Made a national day by law no. 211 of 20 July 2000. [28] It is an international memorial day that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, which resulted in the murder of one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities between 1933 and 1945 by Nazi Germany, an attempt to implement their "final solution" to the Jewish question. |
| 1 February | National day of civilian victims of wars and conflicts in the world | Giornata nazionale delle vittime civili delle guerre e dei conflitti nel mondo | Made a national day by law no. 9 of 25 January 2017. [1] |
| 20 February | National day of health, social and social care and voluntary workers | Giornata nazionale del personale sanitario, sociosanitario, socioassistenziale e del volontariato | Made a national day by law no. 155 of 13 November 2020. [1] |
| 21 February | National Braille Day | Giornata nazionale del Braille | Made a national day by law no. 126 of 3 August 2007. [1] |
| 6 March | Day of the Righteous of Humanity | Giornata dei Giusti dell'umanità | Made a national day by law no. 212 of 20 December 2017. [1] |
| 17 March | Anniversary of the Unification of Italy | Anniversario dell'Unità d'Italia | The day celebrates the birth of Italy as a modern nation state, which took place following the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy on 17 March 1861. However, the complete unification of Italy took place only in the following years. 17 March was proclaimed a national holiday in 1911, the 50th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy, in 1961, the 100th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy, and in 2011, the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy. With the law no. 222 of 23 November 2012 [5] the Giornata dell'Unità nazionale, della Costituzione, dell'inno e della bandiera ("Day of National Unity, the Constitution, the anthem and the flag") was established to be celebrated on 17 March of each year, on the day of the proclamation of the Unification of Italy in 1861, however it is not to be considered a day festive. |
| 18 March | National day in memory of the victims of the coronavirus epidemic | Giornata nazionale in memoria delle vittime dell'epidemia di coronavirus | Made a national day by law no. 35 of 18 March 2021. [1] |
| 21 March | National day of memory and commitment in remembrance of the victims of the mafia | Giornata nazionale della memoria e dell'impegno in ricordo delle vittime delle mafie | Made a national day by law no. 20 of 8 March 2017. [1] |
| 22 April | Earth Day | Giornata della Terra | Earth Day is an international annual event on 22 April to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on 22 April 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EarthDay.org (formerly Earth Day Network). [29] including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. [29] [30] |
| 5 May | National day against pedophilia and child pornography | Giornata nazionale contro la pedofilia e la pedopornografia | Made a national day by law no. 41 of 4 May 2009. [1] |
| 9 May | Remembrance day dedicated to victims of terrorism | Giorno della memoria dedicato alle vittime del terrorismo | Made a national day by law no. 56 of 4 May 2007. [1] |
| Europe Day | Giornata dell'Europa | Europe Day is a day celebrating "peace and unity in Europe" [31] [32] celebrated on 5 May by the Council of Europe and on 9 May by the European Union. | |
| 14 June | World Blood Donor Day | Giornata mondiale del donatore di sangue | World Blood Donor Day is held on 14 June each year. The event was organised for the first time in 2005, by a joint initiative of the World Health Organization, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, and to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving donations of blood. |
| 2 October | Grandparents' Day | Festa nazionale dei nonni | Made a national day by law no. 159 of 31 July 2005. [1] |
| 3 October | National day in memory of the victims of immigration | Giornata nazionale in memoria delle vittime dell'immigrazione | Made a national day by law no. 45 of 21 March 2016. [1] |
| 4 October | World Animal Day | Giornata mondiale degli animali | World Animal Day is an international day of action for animal rights and welfare celebrated annually on 4 October, the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. |
| 9 October | National day in memory of the victims of environmental and industrial disasters caused by human negligence | Giornata nazionale in memoria delle vittime dei disastri ambientali e industriali causati dall'incuria dell'uomo | Made a national day by law no. 101 of 4 June 2011. [1] |
| 12 October | Columbus Day | Giornata nazionale di Cristoforo Colombo | In Italy, Columbus Day has been officially celebrated since 2004. [33] The "Lega Navale Italiana" has created a Regata di Colombo as a celebration of the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus (Italian : Cristoforo Colombo) achievement. [34] Italians have celebrated their "Cristoforo Colombo" naming after him many civilian and military ships, like the ocean liner SS Cristoforo Colombo. |
| 24 October | United Nations Day | Giornata delle Nazioni Unite | United Nations Day is an annual commemorative day, reflecting the official creation of the United Nations on 24 October 1945. In 1947, the United Nations General Assembly declared 24 October, the anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations, to "be devoted to making known to the people of the world the aims and achievements of the United Nations and to gaining their support for" its work. [35] |
| National day of entertainment | Giornata nazionale dello spettacolo | Made a national day by law no. 164 of 28 October 2021. [1] | |
| 9 November | Freedom day | Giorno della libertà | Made a national day by law no. 61 of 15 April 2005. [1] |
| 21 November | National Tree Day | Giornata nazionale degli alberi | Made a national day by law no. 10 of 14 January 2013. [1] |
| 25 November | International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women | Giornata internazionale per l'eliminazione della violenza contro le donne | The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (Resolution 54/134). [36] The premise of the day is to raise awareness around the world that women are subjected to rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence; furthermore, one of the aims of the day is to highlight that the scale and true nature of the issue is often hidden. |
| Third Sunday of November | National day in memory of road victims | Giornata nazionale in memoria delle vittime della strada | Made a national day by law no. 227 of 29 December 2017. [1] |
| 1 December | World AIDS Day | Giornata mondiale contro l'AIDS | World AIDS Day, designated on 1 December every year since 1988, [37] is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who have died of the disease. |
An institutional referendum was held by universal suffrage in the Kingdom of Italy on 2 June 1946, a key event of contemporary Italian history. Until 1946, Italy was a kingdom ruled by the House of Savoy, reigning since the unification of Italy in 1861 and previously rulers of the Kingdom of Sardinia. In 1922, the rise of Benito Mussolini and the creation of the Fascist regime in Italy, which eventually resulted in engaging the country in World War II alongside Nazi Germany, considerably weakened the role of the royal house.
Saint Joseph's Day, also called the Feast of Saint Joseph or the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, is in Western Christianity the principal feast day of Saint Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary and legal father of Jesus Christ, celebrated on 19 March. It has the rank of a solemnity in the Catholic Church. It is a feast or commemoration in the provinces of the Anglican Communion, and a feast or festival in the Lutheran Church. Saint Joseph's Day is the Patronal Feast day for Poland as well as for Canada, persons named Joseph, Josephine, etc., for religious institutes, schools and parishes bearing his name, and for carpenters. It is also Father's Day in some Catholic countries, mainly Spain, Portugal, and Italy. It is not a holy day of obligation for Catholics in the United States.
Tourism in Italy is one of the largest economic sectors of the country. With 60 million tourists per year (2023), Italy is the fourth most visited country in international tourism arrivals. According to 2018 estimates by the Bank of Italy, the tourism sector directly generates more than five per cent of the national GDP and represents over six per cent of the employed.
A patronal feast or patronal festival is a yearly celebration dedicated – in countries influenced by Christianity – to the 'heavenly advocate' or 'patron' of the location holding the festival, who is a saint or virgin. The day of this celebration is called patronal feast day, patronal day or patron day of said location.
In many European countries, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, there are various traditions surrounding the use of bread during the Easter holidays. Traditionally the practice of eating Easter bread or sweetened "communion" bread traces its origin back to Byzantium, Eastern Catholicism and the Orthodox Christian church. The recipe for sweetened or "honey-leavened" bread may date back as far as the Homeric Greek period based on anecdotal evidence from classical texts.
Ferragosto is a public holiday celebrated on 15 August in all of Italy. It originates from Feriae Augusti, the festival of Emperor Augustus, who made 1 August a day of rest after weeks of hard work on the agricultural sector. It became a custom for the workers to wish their employers buon Ferragosto and receive a monetary bonus in return. This became law during the Roman Renaissance throughout the Papal States. As the festivity was created for political reasons, the Catholic Church decided to move the festivity to 15 August, which is the Assumption of Mary allowing them to include this in the festivity.
Festa della Repubblica is the Italian National Day and Republic Day, which is celebrated on 2 June each year, with the main celebration taking place in Rome. The Festa della Repubblica is one of the national symbols of Italy.
National symbols of Italy are the symbols that uniquely identify Italy reflecting its history and culture. They are used to represent the Nation through emblems, metaphors, personifications, allegories, which are shared by the entire Italian people.
Traditions of Italy are sets of traditions, beliefs, values, and customs that belongs within the culture of Italian people. These traditions have influenced life in Italy for centuries, and are still practiced in modern times. Italian traditions are directly connected to Italy's ancestors, which says even more about Italian history.
Liberation Day, also known as the Anniversary of Italy's Liberation, Anniversary of the Resistance, or simply 25 April, is a national holiday in Italy that commemorates the victory of the Italian resistance movement against Nazi Germany and the Italian Social Republic, puppet state of the Nazis and rump state of the fascists, culmination of the liberation of Italy from German occupation and of the Italian civil war in the latter phase of World War II. That is distinct from Republic Day, which takes place on 2 June and commemorates the 1946 Italian institutional referendum.
National Unity and Armed Forces Day is an Italian national day since 1919 which commemorates the victory in World War I, a war event considered the completion of the process of unification of Italy. It is celebrated every 4 November, which is the anniversary of the armistice of Villa Giusti becoming effective in 1918 declaring Austria-Hungary's surrender.
Our Lady of Miracles is the patron saint of the town of Alcamo.
Tricolour Day, officially National Flag Day, is the flag day of Italy. Celebrated on 7 January, it was established by Law 671 on 31 December 1996. It is intended as a celebration, though not a public holiday. The official celebration of the day is held in Reggio Emilia, the city where the Italian tricolour was first adopted as flag by an Italian sovereign state, the Cispadane Republic, on 7 January 1797.
The Anniversary of the Unification of Italy is a national day that falls annually on 17 March and celebrates the birth of Italy as a modern nation state, which took place following the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy on 17 March 1861.
Christmas in Italy begins on 8 December, with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the day on which traditionally the Christmas tree is mounted and ends on 6 January, of the following year with the Epiphany, and in some areas female puppets are burned on a pyre, to symbolize, along with the end of the Christmas period, the death of the old year and the beginning of a new one. 26 December, is also a public holiday in Italy. The Italian term Natale derives from the Latin natalis, which literally means 'birth', and the greetings in Italian are buon Natale and felice Natale.
The patronal feast of Saint Francis and Saint Catherine is a religious and civil celebration annually held on 4 October in Italy and other locations influenced by Christianity.
Easter in Italy is one of the country's major holidays. Easter in Italy enters Holy Week with Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, concluding with Easter Day and Easter Monday. Each day has a special significance. The Holy Weeks worthy of note in Italy are the Holy Week in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto and the Holy Week in Ruvo di Puglia.
Priscus of Nocera was the first bishop of Nocera, patron saint of the city of Nocera Inferiore and of the diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno.
The Natale di Roma, historically known as Dies Romana and also referred to as Romaia, is a festival linked to the foundation of the city of Rome, celebrated on April 21. According to legend, Romulus is said to have founded the city of Rome on April 21, 753 BC.
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