Il Giorno Della Repubblica

On 2nd June Italians in Italy and in large Italian communities all over the world celebrate the birth of a nation. Italian schools and businesses close down for the Festa della Repubbblica, Republic Day.

The Italian National Day holiday celebrates the establishment of the Italian Republic and the end of the monarchy on June 2nd 1946. After World War 2 many Italians were unhappy with the then king, Umberto 2 of Italy and the people wanted another form of government. A referendum was held and the majority of Italian citizens voted for the Republic of Italy. King Umberto 2 and his family left Italy for exile. My father was actually a sailor on the ship that escorted the royal family to Alexandria in Egypt. The flag of Italy was changed by removing the emblem of the House of Savoy and has remained unchanged since.

Italians celebrate Republic day by watching parades, fireworks, concerts, sharing picnics with family and friends. Each year a wreath is placed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Rome. The tomb, which has an eternal flame, was  built to honour all of Italy’s fallen soldiers and was completed in 1924.

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