The Italians have a number of important public holidays where offices & schools are closed for various reasons. Find out more about the days that are marked as Italian public holidays.
Every country gives importance to certain dates and times of the year which are honored in giving that day off to the public. The day may feature special festivals and celebrations or it could just be an excuse to sit back do nothing and relax. Some public holidays are celebrated in honor of important political events which hold great significance in the history of the country. Whereas there are other public holidays that have religious grounds. Italy has a mixture of both these kinds of public holidays.
The importance of knowing public holidays for a traveler
It is important for the traveler to be well informed about the Italian public holidays prior to his departure because that will help him plan his trip in advance. Knowing about the public holidays of a region is important for the business traveler as well as the people going on vacation. This is because the cost of air fare or other modes of traveling may be higher in the peak seasons during which there is an influx of tourists into the land. Availability of seats is another issue of concern for the traveler. You will also find that hotels are full during the holiday seasons and will generally charge you more. Furthermore if you want to conduct business you would want to avoid that time of the year which is dotted with public holidays.
The first half
The Italians start off their New Year with a blast as New Year’s is the first official public holiday for the country. Five days later you have another public holiday for Epiphany, the sixth of January to be precise. Easter holidays are the next in line but the dates are movable. Easter day and the first Monday after Easter are the days that are officially celebrated as holidays. The end of World War II marks an important historical event and is a public holiday in Italy. The war ended on the 25th of April 1945 hence the day is celebrated as Liberation Day.
Labor Day is the product of the French Revolution philosophy. It is marked as a public holiday in many countries of the world including Italy on the 1st of May. The birth of the Italian republic is obviously one of the most significant dates for the country. Italy became a republic on the 2nd of June in the year 1946 hence the day is celebrated as the Festa Della Repubblica or the Republic Day.
The second half
From here onwards till the end of the year the Italians have a string of Christianity related public holidays that are celebrated with much fervor in the country. Assumption Day is marked as the 15th of August which is followed up by the All Saints day after a gap of three and a half months on the first of November. The day after it is known as the Day of the dead and is also a public holiday in Italy. Then you have the 8th of December which is believed to be the day of Immaculate Conception. The next big event is the biggest event of the year; Christmas, celebrated on the 25th of December. The following day is the last Public holiday of the year which is St Stephen’s Day.
