Liberation Day
April 25th is Liberation Day in Italy, a national holiday. It’s the Anniversary of Italy’s Liberation from the Nazi’s. Also known as the Anniversary of the Resitance, the day commenorates the victory of the Italian resistance movement (the partisans) against Nazi Germany and the Italian Social Republic, the puppet state of the Nazis under Mussolini which ended the Italian civil war . Think our July 4th.
Here in Panzano the day is paired with a celebration called Festa della Stagion Bona. This tradition welcomes the good weather of spring (ironic this year when everyone huddled in winter jackets and under umbrellas for parts of the day) and adds a commenoration of a local historic event from the Middle Ages. This unique combination of events draws multitudes to Panzano. This year was no different. Despite the less than springlike weather the village was clogged with cars and bikes and motorcycles. Tourists from near and far swelled the population of this tiny village until there was literally standing room only along the Via Verrazano for the main events - a parade of villagers in medieval garb and a re-enactment of the trial and hanging of the assasin from a rival feudal family.
From converstaions with my friends in the days leading up to the 25th I knew to expect the festive atmosphere. I knew there’d be booths in the piazza, families and dogs sharing the usually quiet streets, offerings of food and wine in every corner. It was the sight of red and white buntings flung out every window that caught me by surprise. My visceral reaction stunned me. Unexpected tears pooled in my eyes. I stopped with a lump rose in my throat at the sight- a whole village unified in remembering their defeat of oppression in WW2. The sense of community, a shared history, an appreciation of the sacredness of the sacrifice, struggle and ultimate victory in 1946 - all of it just overwhelmed me. Every red and white flag shouted to me , “Democracy won!”
I am not naive. I know of the current struggle here in Italy under a Premier with roots in a neo-fascist party. Yet still here is unity and communal celebration. How I’d welcome such a sense of community at home and a return to a shared vision of what is right and true and sacred. Dare we dream of a new indepence day with the wave of red , white and blue buntings from every window at home shouting , “Democracy! Peace! Civility! Unity!”?
