Italian national festivals

8th December (the Virgin), religious festivity Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

25th December (Christmas), religious festivity Christmas is the day of Jesus' birth.

26th December (Boxing Day). religious festivity December 26th is the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

1st January (New Year’s Day), civil festivity New Year's Day is the first day of the new year. It is also a world day of peace.

6th January (Epiphany), religious festivity Epiphany is the date on which Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, who are variously referred to as The Three Kings, Three Wise Men or Magi, arrived from the east bearing gifts for Jesus.

Palm Sunday, religious festivity Palm Sunday Is 7 days before Easter Sunday. It is the beginning of Holy Week and marks the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

Maundy Thursday, religious festivity Also called Holy Thursday, Christians remember this as the day of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the ceremony known as the Eucharist.

Good Friday, religious festivity Also called Holy Friday, commemorates the execution of Jesus by the Roman army.

Easter Sunday, religious festivity Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, his return from death after Crucifixion. This is the most important Christian festival.

The following Monday (Easter Monday), religious festivity It is the day that, according to Christian tradition, the angels gave the message of Christ’s resurrection to the women that had hastened to his tomb.

25th April (Liberation Day), civil festivity The liberation of Italy at the end of the second world war from the German army.

1st May (Labour Day), civil festivity The celebration of Labour Day has its origins in the eight hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. It celebrates the economic and social achievements of workers.

2nd June is (Republic Day), civil festivity Republic day commemorates when Italy became a “Republic” on the 2nd June, 1946

15th July (St. Rosalia), Patron Saint of Palermo The celebration, called the festino, is held each year on 15th July. It is a major social and religious event in Palermo. Also on September 4 there is an event related to the festino and St. Rosalia. According to legend, Rosalia was born of a Norman noble family that claimed descent from Charlemagne. Devoutly religious, she retired to live as a hermit in a cave on Mount Pellegrino, where she died alone in 1166. Tradition says that she was led to the cave by two angels. On the cave wall she wrote "I, Rosalia, daughter of Sinibald, Lord of Roses, and Quisquina, have taken the resolution to live in this cave for the love of my Lord, Jesus Christ." In 1624, a horrible plague haunted Palermo, and during this hardship St. Rosalia appeared first to a sick woman, then to a hunter to whom she indicated where her remains were to be found. She ordered him to bring her bones to Palermo and have them carried in procession through the city. The hunter climbed the mountain and found her bones in the cave as described. He did what she had asked in the apparition, and after the procession the plague ceased. After this St. Rosalia would be venerated as the patron saint of Palermo, and a sanctuary was built in the cave where her remains were discovered.

15th August (Feast of the Assumption), religious festivity Assumption celebrates the reception of the Virgin Mary bodily into Heaven.