The public holidays in Italy are influenced by the feast celebrated by Catholic church, which presence in tradition and customs is visible in Italian everyday’s life.
On Sundays most of the shops are closed, and so the public institutions. The Christmas and Easter feasts last several days and are accompanied by many of local feasts, like Passion Days, or ceremonies in Asissi, which turn into the processions and whole day performances.
Quite unusual, but several hundred years old custom occurs in Florence – breaking the cart ( Scoppio del Carro ) aimed to provide the prosperous year. Pope’s blessing during Easter Sunday gathers thousands of spectators on St.Mark’s square in Vatican and millions behind the TV screen around the world. Another popular mass-media event is the Carnevale in Venice, but celebrated also all over the country.
Almost every city or town celebrates the feast during the local patron saint’s day.
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Jan Epiphany
Feb/Mar Carnival ( 6th-16h February 2010 )
Mar/Apr Easter
Mar/Apr Easter Monday
25 Apr Anniversary of the Liberation
1 May Labor Day
2 June Republic Day
29 June St Peter and St Paul’s Day
15 Aug Assumption Day (Ferragosto )
4 Nov (Sunday closest to ) WWI Victory Day
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
6 Dec St Nicholas Day
8 Dec Immaculate Conception
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day
Local patron saint’s day in chosen cities
25 Apr Venice St Mark’s Day
24 June Florence,Genua and Pisa St John the Baptist’s Day
14 July Palermo St Rosalia’s Day
19 Sept Naples St Gennaros Day
7 Dec Milan St Ambrogio’s Day
29 June Rome St Peter and St Paul’s Day (also national holiday )
Rome’s Birthday (Sunday before 21 April)
Guides: Feasts and Events, General Info
