Festa della Repubblica (in English, Republic Day) is the Italian National Day, which is celebrated on the 2nd of June each year. The day commemorates the institutional referendum held by universal suffrage in 1946, in which the Italian people were called to the polls to decide on the form of government, following the Second World War and the fall of Fascism. With 12,717,923 votes for a republic and 10,719,284 for the monarchy, the male descendants of the House of Savoy were sent into exile. To commemorate it, a grand military parade is held in central Rome, presided over by the President of the Italian Republic in his role as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The Prime Minister, formally known as the President of the Council of Ministers and other high officers of state also attend. There are important celebrations in all the Italian embassies and foreign heads of state are invited. Even though the main parade is in Rome, many Italian cities celebrate the Republic Day as well.
Prior to the foundation of the Republic, the Italian national day was the first Sunday in June, anniversary of the granting of the Statuto Albertino. Until 1977 this was the date of the celebrations for the 1948 foundation of the republic. The June 2 date for it became official in 2000.
Celebration
Like many other Italian holidays, the Festa della Repubblica Italiana has a tradition of symbolic events. Currently, the celebration includes the laying of a wreath at the Unknown Soldier at the Altare della Patria and a military parade in central Rome, presided over by the President of the Italian Republic in his role as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The Prime Minister, formally known as the President of the Council of Ministers, and other high officers of state also attend.
