When is Liberation Day?
Celebrated on April 25th, Liberation Day (Anniversario della Liberazione or Festa della Liberazione) is a public holiday across Italy that commemorates the liberation of the country by Allied troops and the Italian resistance at the end of the Second World War.
History of Liberation Day
The holiday is intended to honour all those who died during the war, from soldiers fighting overseas to civilian victims. It is estimated that almost half a million Italians died during the war.
The lives of those who served as partisans in the Italian Resistance who fought Mussolini's troops as well as the Nazis are especially honoured.
The liberation also marked the end of 23 years of fascist rule of Italy.
How is Liberation Day Celebrated?
The day is marked with gatherings in towns across Italy. The celebrations may range from marching bands to political rallies to music concerts.
It has been a public holiday in Italy since 1946.
A popular tradition is the singing of the folk song 'Bella Ciao', a tale of a partisan who died for Italian freedom, whose only wish was to be buried in the mountains under the shadow of a beautiful flower.
The day is marked in Rome with a ceremony in the morning at the Altare della Patria, which is attended by the Italian president. In addition, the day is traditionally marked by parades across the country, organised by ANPI, the National Partisan Association of Italy. These events are usually marked with speeches, the laying of wreaths and singing of Bella Ciao, the anthem of the anti-fascist resistance,
On the day all state schools and offices will be closed as well as many shops. Whilst some tourist places remain open, municipal attractions such as museums, and monuments will be shut and public transportation may run a reduced service.
As Liberation Day falls within a week of the May Day holiday on May 1st, this period is traditionally popular with Italians to take extra vacation days to create a holiday week.
