25th April: an historical date for all Italians and a cherished anniversary for Venetians

National Liberation Day

Today, 25^th April, is a fundamental date for the Italian history, as we celebrate the liberation of Italy from Nazi occupation and Fascist regime. Exactly on 25^th April 1945 the Committee of National Liberation North of Italy, formed to fight against Fascism and German invasion, gave the green light so that all occupied territories could rebel against the ongoing oppression, with the precious support of Partisan forces, that have been fundamental for the entire process of resistance and opposition.

Starting from this date, the whole national ground was freed in just a few days, putting and end to twenty years of Fascist dictatorship and five years of tormented war.

Therefore 25^th April represents the achievement of the will for freedom felt by all movements of Italian Resistance, as well as the beginning of a new political phase of the Bel Paese, that a few months after, in June 1946, will lead to the birth of the Italian Republic, thanks to the first institutional referendum where also women could vote.

The actual date on which the Surrender of Caserta happened was 29^th April: such official deed determined the end of the Italian Campaigns and the defeat of the Nazi-Fascist forces on a formal side. It was Alcide De Gaspari who in 1946 proposed and ensured the approval of the legislative decree that established the symbolic date of April 25^th as a national celebration. Why then? During that historical day the Fascist and Nazi soldiers started their retreat from Milan and Turin after they underwent some heavy military losses and such towns were invaded by Partisans supported by the local population who rebelled as well. Consequently, it was specifically for such symbolic events occurred on that 25^th April that this date was chosen for the anniversary of National Liberation Day in Italy, as an everlasting memory for the entire Italian population.

Saint Mark Celebration

April 25^th is not only National Liberation Day in Italy, it also is a very important date for Venetians: Saint Mark the Evangelist Day, the patron of the most famous town built on water in the world, Venice, also referred to as Bocòlo Day, from the typical dialect of the town, meaning rosebud.

Traditionally in Venice and its surroundings on April 25^th partners exchange rosebuds as a symbol of their true love.

The Legend of the Rosebud

The story behind such tradition is deeply felt by Venetians. The protagonists are two youngsters, Maria, the daughter of Doge Orso I Partecipazio and Tancredi, a young man of humble origins, who were madly in love with each other. Maria’s father hampered such love between a noble woman and a man of humble origins; for this reason Maria encouraged Tancredi to enrol and leave with the army of Carlo Magno against the Moors in Spain. This way, the young man could have proved his value at war and therefore could have obtained the chance to deserve the woman’s love. Tancredi had several successes in the battlefields, driven by the ardour for his beloved one. Such vehemence, however, was fatal for him as he tragically died during a fight. When the troops returned home, as Maria was looking for her beloved one, a soldier approached her and offered her a rosebud stained by Tancredi’s blood that the lover had actually picked up and dipped in his own blood before perishing. The day after, on 25^th April, the maiden was found bloodless with the rosebud placed on her heart and the legend says that the rosebud had become fresh again as if just picked up.

From that day onwards, every 25^th April lovers exchange rosebuds as a symbol of a deep love that never dies not even after death.

Our bond with Venetian traditions

Since Patrizia Volpato is a company of the Venetian area, we do feel closely linked to our territory and to its beautiful traditions, just like the one of the Bocòlo that we greatly feel. Venice has always been a source of inspiration for our design lighting items and we are very fond of the floral theme, as can be seen from our Murano glass artworks. Flowers are typical outputs of Murano glass factories and they are a timeless classic within the lighting and design field, a symbol for gentleness, purity and connection to nature, a constant presence within our Murano Collection too, which pays homage to the Venetian tradition and to the everlasting tie with the native land of Patrizia Volpato Srl.