Italy Celebrates National Day in Luxembourg with Agrifood Promotion, Emilia-Romagna Delegation Visit

Italy is celebrating its national day, also known as the Festa della Repubblica, today, Thursday 2 June 2022.

The Italian National Day and Republic Day commemorates the institutional referendum held on 2 June 1946 when the Italian people were called to the polls to decide whether they wanted a monarchy or a republic following the end of World War II.

The official ceremony in Rome includes the solemn flag-raising at the Altar of the Fatherland (Altare della Patria), whislt other ceremonies are held throughout the national territory. The Italian Armed Forces, police forces, the Vigili del Fuoco (Fire and rescue service) , the Protezione Civile (Civil protection department) and the Italian Red Cross take part in the military parade during the official ceremonies. One of the main attractions during the official ceremony in Rome, after the playing of the National Anthem, Il Canto degli Italiani, is the aerobatic demonstration team "Frecce Tricolori" of the Italian Air Force crossing the skies leaving smoke trails representing the national colours of Italy.

In Luxembourg, the Italian Embassy confirmed to Chronicle.lu that the National Day celebrations will be complemented by the participation of a large delegation from the Emilia-Romagna region, including its President, Stefano Bonaccini, Andrea Corsini, Councilor for mobility and transport, infrastructure, tourism and trade, and Alessio Mammi, Agricultural and Agrifood Policy Advisor. All promotional activities are part of an economic mission supported by the Italian Embassy, in collaboration with the ICE-Brussels Agency and the “Camera di Commercio Italo-Lussemburghese”. Emilia-Romagna is one of the 20 administrative regions of Italy, situated in the north of the country.

On the ocassion of this National Day, Italian Ambassador to Luxembourg, Diego Brasioli, said: "Luxembourg is very close to Italy and the keen interest shown in the Emilia-Romagna delegation and its President by this programme is concrete testimony to the intensity of the cultural and economic relations that exist between the two countries". He continued: "The Region of excellence in food and wine, the most prestigious cars in the world, Formula 1 and Moto GP Grand Prix, supercomputers, technological innovation and scientific research, with its beautiful landscapes and tourist attractions, exerts a great fascination for a qualified and high-potential public like that of Luxembourg”.

The Emilia-Romagna region, also known as Italy's Food Valley, will promote its PDO (Protected Designation Of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) agri-food products, along with the Italian Embassy, on the occasion of the Italian National Day. "The products of this Region such as Parmigiano Reggiano AOP and Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena AOP are among the best known in Luxembourg", commented Fabio Morvilli, President of the "Camera di Commercio Italo Lussemburghese". A gastronomic dinner will be organised at Cercle Munster in Luxembourg-Grund by chef Maria Luisa Mazzocchi, from the restaurant "La Palta" in Borgonovo Val Tidone - Piacenza, dedicated to products of the Emilia-Romagna region.

President Bonaccini will have a working meeting with Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and hold a conference at the University of Luxembourg on the theme of the economic recovery of Europe.

An original theatrical performance by the journalist Federico Buffa, with pianist Alessandro Nidi, is also taking place, with the aim of bringing to the stage one of his stories, "Italia Mundial", on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the historic Italian victory in the Football World Cup in Spain in 1982. This also represents Mr Buffa's first theatrical performance outside Italy.

It should be noted that Luxembourg and Italy share a long and rich history, as reflected, for example, by the influx of Italian workers in Luxembourg in the late-19th to early-20th centuries, primarily contributing to the success of the Grand Duchy's iron and steel industries, as well as the country's multicultural character as it exists today.

According to the Luxembourg's national persons register, there were 30,588 Italians living in Luxembourg as of 31 March 2022, representing nearly 5% of the Luxembourg population and the third largest foreign community in Luxembourg, after Portuguese and French nationals.

Of the 30,588 Italians in Luxembourg, 10,940 (36%) were living in Luxembourg City, followed by Esch-sur-Alzette (1,709), Differdange (1,398) and Hesperange (1,255), the four municipalities with more than 1,000 Italians each. Italians were resident in all the 102 municipalities of Luxembourg.