La Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day) is the Italian National Day and one of the national symbols. Observed each year on June 2nd (il due giugno), la Festa della Repubblica celebrates the birth of the Italian Republic, which happened on June 2, 1946, after a referendum in which —in the aftermath of WWII— Italians were asked to decide on the form of their new government.
While the official, solemn celebrations occur in Rome and are officiated by the Presidente della Repubblica, Italians all around the country celebrate the day with fireworks, concerts, picnics, and, more generally, spending time outdoors. If it’s a lucky year—meaning, June 2 falls on a Friday or a Monday— Italians may have a long weekend fuori porta (out-of-town) or even a ponte (litelly, a bridge), that is, a long break that “happens” when a public holiday falls during the week with one working day between it and the weekend, which is usually taken as a day off.
History and Significance of Italy Becoming a Republic
In 1946, at the end of the Second World War, Italy was still a monarchy. The Regno d’Italia (Kingdom of Italy) was born in 1861, when Italy united, and had been ruled by the Savoia family since then. The Italian royal family, however, was gravely compromised for having supported the Fascist Regime for more than 20 years, not to mention the then-king Vittorio Emanuele III fleeing the country after the armistice with the Allies in September 1943.
On June 2nd and 3rd 1946, Italians were called to choose between monarchy and republic. For the first time in the nation’s history, an election was held by universal suffrage (meaning, women could finally vote!). On June 18, results were announced: 12,718,641 Italians voted for la Repubblica and 10,718,502 for la monarchia. The Repubblica Italiana was proclaimed. After the Ventennio Fascista, the disastrous war, and the deep wounds left by the civil war fought by the Resistenza to free the country from Nazis and Fascists, a modern and democratic nation was finally born.
Since the following year, 1947 la Festa della Repubblica has been celebrated, though with changing fortunes. In the Seventies, to contain costs due to the severe economic crisis, the holiday was made “movable” and celebrated on the first Sunday of June. In 2001, however, President Ciampi turned it back into a public holiday, strictly celebrated on June, 2.
Useful Vocabulary and Meaning of the Italian Flag
The official ceremony of the Festa della Repubblica —which is held in Roma—includes a very solemn alzabandiera (flag-raising) at the Altare della Patria, followed by the Presidente della Repubblica deponing a corona d’alloro (laurel wreath) to honour the Milite Ignoto (Unknown Soldier) as well as an equally solemn parata militare (military parade) along the magnificent Via dei Fori Imperiali.
Speaking of bandiera (flag), the green-white-and-red one you’re probably familiar with was officially adopted on June 19, 1946 (after the Republic was born) but has been around since 1749. Inspired by the French one, and also known as il Tricolore, la bandiera italiana has its own holiday (la Festa del Tricolore) on January 7—often forgotten, to say the truth. As for its meaning, green stands for freedom and hope, white for faith, and red for love. Kind of universal, evergreen values, right? Whatever “color” you feel more attuned to, and whatever link you might have to Italy (if only love and interest for the bella lingua), think about la Repubblica Italiana next June, 2: it was the pillar of the modern, democratic country Italy has been since 1946.
By Claudia Quesito
Also read:
How Italians Celebrates San Giuseppe (Festa del Papà): Traditions, Food, and Customs
