Public and national holidays in Italy. Italy in May How New Year's holidays are celebrated in Italy
The Italians themselves do not like to work. Proof of this is the long lunch breaks (especially in the south), and the constant strikes of workers public transport and educators. Therefore, it would be strange if May 1 was bypassed in Italy How this holiday was celebrated here several years ago and how it is done now, I will tell in today's article.
Like other holidays in Italy, May Day is a day off. Moreover, not only state institutions are closed for the holiday, but also shops and cafes. With the rarest exception, Italians call May 1 "the holiday of work (labor)" - Festa dellavoro. It began to be celebrated in 1890 by the decision of the Second International - the unification of socialist parties from different countries. Three years earlier, workers in Chicago had rioted on this day, insisting that they "cut" their working hours. The strike resulted in the death of several of its members. It is for this reason that when choosing the date for Labor Day, the participants of the Second International settled on May 1 - the day when Chicago workers suffered in the struggle for their rights.
The very first celebration of May 1 in Italy began with a kind of “flash mob” - everyone decided at once not to go to work. that despite the distance and the difference in nationality, race and language, all proletarians agree in the desire to improve their lot and win in front of the idlers the place that should go to the one who works. At the same time, bourgeois newspapers recommended that residents stock up on food and stay at home that day, otherwise, all of a sudden ...
The celebration of May Day in Italy was interrupted for twenty years when the country was led by the Fascist Party. Then Labor Day was timed to coincide with the birthday of Rome - NatalediRoma- and celebrated on April 21st. On May 1, those who disagreed with the Mussolini regime distributed leaflets and wore a red carnation in the buttonhole of their jacket. They managed to return the holiday only after the end of World War II - in 1945.
However, two years later, during the celebration, which was attended by about two thousand workers, a tragedy occurred. Members of the Sicilian gang of Salvatore Giuliano, who support the Fascist Party, perpetrated a massacre right at the May Day demonstration in the town of Portella della Ginestra, near Palermo. Eleven people were killed and more than fifty were injured. The General Italian Confederation of Labor Cgil accused the Sicilian landowners of "wanting to suppress workers' organizations with such bloody methods. Giuliano himself died at the hands of his accomplice three years after the tragedy in Portella.
Today, as they say, May 1 in Italy is not the same. Workers do not go out with banners, meetings are not held, and no one is shouting for rights. The events that take place on this day are mostly youth. The most famous and largest of them is a rock concert in Rome, which is popularly called Concertone, that is, “a big concert”. It passes through the square of San Giovanni in Laterano and gathers hundreds of thousands of spectators.
Any traveler should know the dates of major holidays in the country he is going to visit. And Italy is no exception. In addition, Italians are very fond of celebrating not only public holidays, but also religious ones. In addition, a number of celebrations take place only in certain cities.
As a result, if you are going to Italy as a tourist, then attending the festival will help you better understand the country and its people. At the same time, during major holidays, many people often come to big cities, and the streets become crowded. Therefore, sometimes the date of the trip should be rescheduled.
As noted above, holidays in Italy are divided into civil and religious. Both of them can be official holidays and working days.
Official holidays in Italy
Civilian:
1st of January- New Year
25th of April- Day of liberation from fascism
The 1 of May- Labor Day.
2 June- Day of the proclamation of the Republic.
Religious:
January 6- Baptism
Variable Date Holiday - Easter Sunday and Easter Monday (Angel's Day)
August 15- Assumption (or as the Italians call it "Ferragosto")
Nov. 1- All Saints' Day, Ancestral Day
November 4– National Unity Day (working day)
December 8– Immaculate Conception
December 25- Christmas
December 26- Saint Stephen's Day
May Day is an international phenomenon, and celebrated in many countries of the world. In Russia, where political contradictions are still strong, these days are associated with the forgotten words "strike", "working class" and "demonstration". What about in Italy? Here the first of May is also declared a public holiday. But the local proletariat celebrates it according to a slightly different scenario.
No, of course - every year, in the best traditions of rebellion against the system of capitalist oppression of workers, trade unions organize processions on the streets of large cities. But today they are more and more peaceful, and ending with performances of musicians in the open air. This year, for example, a May Day concert was held in Piazza San Giovanni in Rome, which was attended by many stars of rock and pop scene. About 800 thousand people came to see this action, so May Day in Italy can still be considered a mass holiday. But what about those who want to celebrate it differently?
There are a lot of ways to celebrate May Day in Italy in an original way. It was possible to go to the city of Cocullo (Lazio region). This year, the feast of the city patron fell on May 1st. Saint Domenic, in addition to protecting the city, also protects from snake bites and, for some reason, from toothache. We will temporarily omit the second, but there is an interesting tradition about snakes. If the released reptiles curl up around the saint's head, then the year will be a success. If they fall down (more likely) - the year will be so-so. Then the statue, hung with reptiles, is carried throughout the city to the ringing of bells and the roar of firecrackers. Until 1940, they carried it directly to a huge fire, in which, under the stormy approval of the crowd, all the snakes were burned. Today, animals cannot be offended, so the statue is escorted to the nearest forest, where reptiles are released into the wild.
In general, the first of May in Italy is a holiday closely associated with nature. It has been going on since Roman times. The ancient Romans, in honor of the goddess of flowers and spring Flora, organized wide festivities in the first days of May. Therefore, it is not surprising that one of the Italian traditions is the May Day tree, decorated especially for this holiday. It, hung with garlands, fringe and other bows, becomes a kind of center of celebration. Round dances are performed around it, picnics are organized, and fireworks are arranged. Sometimes, in a fit of enthusiasm, this tree can even be dug up and carried away, which is considered a tradition in some cities. There is also the “Tree of Abundance” (l "Albero della Cuccagna), which you don’t need to dig up. The task is fundamentally different - you need to climb it and remove some goodies attached to the big wheel at the top. All this is very reminiscent of Russian fun Maslenitsa, with the only difference that instead of strong alcoholic beverages the amused public prefers wine.
The celebration of May Day in Italy was also joined by Catholic Church making it also a religious celebration. During the feast of Calendimaggio, services dedicated to St. Joseph are held in all cathedrals and churches.
Those Italians who do not go to demonstrations, to church and do not dig up May Day trees, certainly sing serenades under the windows of their loved ones. A green branch placed by a man on the porch of his beloved's house on the eve of May 1 means a marriage proposal. If the lady of the heart accepts the offer, she takes the branch; if not, she throws it on the road.
The tradition of celebrating May 1 is rooted in ancient times. In the 10th century BC. e. in Italy, the locals worshiped the goddess of fertility and land - Maya. The last month of spring was named in her honor, and on the first day of the month people held mass celebrations.
In the early Middle Ages, Europeans on the night of April 30 to May 1 celebrated the holiday of spring sowing. Those people who were not very interested in the harvest gathered for a coven of witches and other dark magical forces - Walpurgis Night. But as the church gained strength in Europe, Walpurgis Night was banned in Europe. At the end of the 19th century, the inhabitants of the Old World celebrated May 1 exclusively as the day of spring sowing.
Germany.
The tradition of celebrating Walpurgis Night has been preserved in Germany. On the night of April 30 to May 1, 2012, more than 10,000 witches, sorcerers and kikimors gathered to celebrate Walpurgis Night at the foot of Mount Broken. Traditional rallies are also held on this day - in honor of the events of May 1, 1886 in Chicago (USA), when workers, dissatisfied with working conditions, staged a rally and were dispersed by the police.
In Italy, May 1 is a holiday of flora and flowers. On this day, flowers are harvested on the islands that bring happiness. May 1st is considered the happiest day of the year in Italy. On this day, it is customary to make a marriage proposal to your beloved girls. All day long, songs are sung on the streets of the country, dances are danced and fireworks are fired.
The French on this day arrange rallies with a political bias. But May 1 in France is also a holiday of lilies of the valley. On this day, everyone gives each other fragrant bouquets of the first spring flowers. Also on this day, you can give a branch of hawthorn, oak or poplar, as a sign of love and friendship. Girls with a bad temper are given a holly, and lazy people are given an elderberry branch. Cows play a special role in French festivals on May 1st. Bouquets of flowers are tied to their tails as the cows take part in the procession. Everyone tries to touch them, because, according to the sign, this can bring good luck. On the morning of May 1, everyone drinks warm fresh milk, which can also bring good luck throughout the year. The French believe that on the night of April 30 to May 1, evil spirits begin to rampage, from which it is imperative to defend yourself. On this night, dew, milk, and oil have especially healing properties. On this night, you can "harm" your neighbor - for this you need to drag a little manure from his yard and scatter it over your field.
For Swedes, May 1 is a holiday of spring and spring sowing. This holiday is very homely for the people of Sweden. People gather in parks, weave wreaths, jump over bonfires and set off fireworks.
In the United States, Labor Day is officially celebrated in September. But in some states, May 1 is a holiday. Minneapolis is hosting the Heart of the Beast parade, a celebration of spring and handicrafts.
The British have a rest on May 1st. They have been celebrating this holiday since 1977. In Scotland and Wales, starting from the early Middle Ages, Beltane was celebrated - a religious holiday dedicated to the god of the sun and fertility, Belenes. On this day, 2 large fires were kindled, and domestic animals were led between them. It was believed that this would protect livestock from diseases and provide a rich offspring. Festivals, which originated in Italy, came to England in the Middle Ages. On the first day of May, the English country people got up at dawn to pick flowers. A tall maypole was set up in a clearing in the village. This tree was usually made from the trunk of a tall birch and decorated with bright wildflowers. The villagers danced and sang around him. The dancers wore colorful costumes with bells. Often the most best girl The village was chosen by the queen of May. Sometimes the king of May was also chosen. Currently in London on May 1, children go door to door and sell flowers. They throw all the collected money into the wishing well or give it to various charitable organizations.
The Indians of Canada have been celebrating Gopher Day on May 1 for centuries. Going to bed sober is considered a great sin. Labor Day has been around for over a century in Canada, but Canadians prefer to use Labor Day as a holiday. As in Russia, this non-working day is added to the weekend, and a 3-day vacation is obtained.
Until recently, May 1st was the beginning of one of the 3 "Golden Weeks", when holidays are held throughout the country 
lasted a whole week. Chinese people travel a lot these days. "Golden weeks" appeared in China in 1999, but already in 2007 the May week was canceled, as it negatively affects production and trade. But May 1 is still a public holiday.
Lei are the most beautiful branch garlands worn around the neck in Hawaii. Celebrate this Garland Day 
coined by the poet Don Blanding in 1927. At the time, he worked for a newspaper in Honolulu, so the idea of celebrating Garland Day on May 1 was soon known to all of Hawaii. Last year, a record was set in Honolulu - the longest garland of flowers 162.5 m long was woven. Beauty contests, dances and fairs are held on this day.
In Spain, May 1 is Green Santiago, the holiday of lovers and flowers. Girls walk around, crowned with roses and carnations, accompanied by lovers who sing their praises.
In the Netherlands - Tulip Festival. The central day of this festival is Bulb Sunday.
In the Scandinavian countries, it is also customary to celebrate Walpurgis Night. Here they burn bonfires, dance round dances, play musical instruments and shoot to scare off the trolls before pasture. in Swedish and Danish folk beliefs, on this night, demons and witches fly to their gatherings, and the fires from the fires prevent them from stopping and harming people. The very same day on May 1 in the Scandinavian countries is called "Cuckoo Day".
Here the Day of Solidarity is held under the patronage of the authorities. Trade unions organize product exhibitions folk art, sale of consumer goods at reduced prices, performances of amateur and professional musical groups.
Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary.
In Switzerland, on the First of May, girls plant a pine tree in front of the window. In other countries, at night, young men in an inconspicuous place plant Maypoles in front of the windows of their lovers.
Greek children get up early in the morning in search of the first swallow of spring. When they find a bird, they walk along the houses and sing songs of spring. Neighbors treat them with fruits, nuts and pies.
Finland.
The Finns also have their own May Day holiday, which is called "Vappu Day" and is a kind of holiday of spring and labor. It has been celebrated for the 4th century, and its initiators were the peasants.
South Korea.
But in South Korea on this day, almost the entire population celebrates the birthday of the Buddha. In our time, it has turned from a religious holiday into an almost secular one - processions of many thousands, dances and chants.
