Italy Holidays - 2009

New Year's Day is the first day of the year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1.New Year is the time of joy and merriment in Italy. It is one of the main festivals in the country and is celebrated by millions of people. The country is known for rich culture and tradition and lots of New Year traditions in Italy bring out the rich culture that is associated with various festivals in the country.Thousands of people gather at the churches and cathedrals to attend the midnight mass to welcome the year ahead.Lighting fireworks also ranks among the important New Year traditions in Italy.Dancing is also popular and many towns have public music and dancing before the fireworks.

The Feast of the Epiphany, celebrated January 6 with a national holiday in Italy. Epiphany commemorates the 12th day of Christmas when the three Wise Men arrived at the manger bearing gifts for Baby Jesus. The traditional Christmas holiday season in Italy lasts through Epiphany.Children wake up to find presents from the Befana, an ancient Santa Claus-like figure whose name means "giver of gifts" and appears as a friendly old witch who rides through the air on a broomstick, dropping through chimneys to fill stockings up with toys and candy.

Easter is known as "Pasqua" in Italy, and as any holiday tradition it is a must that it is celebrated at the table amongst family members, relatives and friends. Actually, at a closer look, there is an Italian saying which says: " Natale con i tuoi e Pasqua con chi vuoi" which translated means:'Christmas with your family and Easter with whoever".Lamb is a common meal along with various types of breads. Salads, fruits and desserts will follow the main course. Wine is never absent during major holidays.

Easter Monday or 'La Pasquetta' - literally little Easter - is one of the favourite Italian holidays. It's an official national holiday in Italy.Banks and shops are closed.On Easter Monday, some cities hold dances, free concerts, or unusual games often involving eggs. Ruzzolone is played by rolling huge wheels of cheese, weighing about 4 kilos, around the village walls. The object is to get your cheese around the course using the fewest number of strokes. Following the cheese contest, there is a band in the piazza and of course, wine. Easter Monday is a time to gather with friends and have fun.

April 25 is an public holiday in Italy on the anniversary of the 1945 liberation. The War of Liberation that occurred in Italy during World War II. It is also known as the War of Resistance.

May Day is an important celebration in Italy. Very popular is the Concerto del Primo Maggio ("1 May's Concert"), organized by Italian Labour Unions in Rome in Piazza San Giovanni. It is attended by more than 300,000 people every year and involves participation of many famous bands and songwriters. The concert is usually broadcasted live by Rai Tre.It is a day to celebrate workers, fighting for rights like an eight-hour work day and safety regulations.Farmers and seasonal workers traditionally took the day off, ate, drank, and danced together on the first day of May, forgetting — for a few hours — the long days of summertime hard work that awaited them.

The “Festa della Repubblica” is the Italian national holiday celebrated on the second day of June. It commemorates the institutional referendum of 1946 when the Italian population was called to decide what form of government (monarchy or republic) to give to the country after the second world war and the fall of Fascism.Support for the monarchy had plunged because the king of Italy had supported Mussolini. So hostile was the public, that the royal family was exiled from Italy forever as punishment.All Armed Forces, Police Forces, the Fire Brigade and the Italian Red Cross, along with some military delegations of the NATO and of the European Union, take part in the parade and in the deposition of the laurel wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The feast day of the Assumption of Mary, also known as Assumption Day, celebrates the day that the Virgin Mary ascended into Heaven following her death, according to popular Christian belief. It is the principal feast day of the Virgin Mother. Ferragosto (Assumption Day), is a national holiday in Itely, businesses and shops are closed. Celebrations take place in many places in Italy on this day and the days before and after, often including music, food, and fireworks. In some big cities like Rome and Milan, however, the city will empty out as Italians leave the city for the beaches and mountains.

The festival of All Saints takes place on November 2nd. It is celebrated in honor of all the Catholic saints and martyrs, known and unknown. It is also a time to reflect on those who have passed in general, a Memorial Day of sorts.

On the Roman Catholic Church calendar of holy days, December 8th is celebrated as a holy day of obligation, commemorating the Immaculate Conception of Mary. The faithful are required to attend Mass, where they commemorate when Mary was graced by God to lead a life completely free of sin.

Christmas season in Italy is traditionally celebrated December 24-January 6, or Christmas Eve through Epiphany. This follows the pagan season of celebrations that started with Saturnalia, a winter solstice festival, and ended with the Roman New Year, the Calends. However there are lots of Christmas things to see during December prior to Christmas, many starting on December 8, the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception. Christmas decorations and trees are becoming more popular in Italy. Lights and decorations are often seen starting around December 8.Traditionally, a meatless dinner is eaten on Christmas eve with the family, followed by a living nativity scene and midnight mass.Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City hosts the popular midnight mass given by the Pope inside Saint Peter's Basilica.

Saint Stephen's Day, the day after Christmas, is a national holidy in Italy. St. Stephen was the Christian Church's first martyr and his feast day is celebrated on December 26th, the Day after Christmas. St. Stephen's Day shares the same date as Boxing Day in England.