Liberation Day (Festa della Liberazione)

Liberation Day in Italy, known as Festa della Liberazione or Anniversario della Liberazione d'Italia, is a national holiday celebrated on April 25 each year. It commemorates the liberation of Italy from Nazi occupation and the end of the Fascist regime during World War II. The date marks the day in 1945 when the Allied forces, along with Italian partisans, succeeded in driving the occupying German forces and Fascist collaborators out of Italy, leading to the eventual end of World War II in Europe. The day is a symbol of freedom and resistance, celebrating the efforts of the Italian Resistance (Resistenza), a coalition of various anti-Fascist groups that fought against the Nazi and Fascist forces. Liberation Day is marked by official ceremonies, speeches, parades, and various cultural events throughout the country, with many cities holding commemorations at local war memorials. It is an important day in Italy's history, reflecting the country's transition from dictatorship to democracy and its return to freedom after years of war and oppression.