WTI Magazine #75    2016 January 18
Author : Elda Buonanno Foley      Translation by:

In this last part of the conversation on Italy being a land of "of artists, poets, saints, philosophers, scientists and sailors" (Please see part 1-2-3 in the previous magazines), I would like to address the stereotype of Italy often been seen as a land of Saints. While the discussion on the role of the Catholic church might be a bit challenging to discuss in this article, I would rather focus on some traditional aspects typical of our Italian culture, such as how important the Saints are in Italy and what is their role in the public imagination and identity.

To understand how deep and embedded in our culture is the observation for the Saint's name and its day, let me start by saying that we are probably the only country that celebrates the "onomastico" – the name's day – which is the name of a Saint. While this entails another celebration in a person's life (presents and best wishes are very common), or a national day of observance for the country or for the local town (no school or no work), the role of Saints portrays a deeper sense and greater value for the local and national identity.

In Italy, we have the so called Saints Patrons, revealing and unforgettable figures of Saints that have brought changes while contributing in the growing sense of belonging to the Christian faith. St. Francis of Assisi and St. Catherine of Siena are our two main national Patron Saints but we also have local Saints that are regularly celebrated and honored with celebrations, peculiar rituals, special masses, parades, processions and so forth.

Each region in Italy has its own Saint and to name all of them would be a daunting task: as a matter of fact, I would need to identify each and every reason why that particular saint is veneered in that specific city. Generally, each town of Italy has its own Patron Saint that had been "chosen" for the special bond of the saint to the local people or the local area. In most of the cases, the town would have a church named after the saint where a "relic" of the Saint is preserved.

Being a native from Campania, I cannot but start with St. Gennaro, Patron Saint of Naples. While his figure is often linked to street fairs and culinary extravaganzas especially "over the pond" in the USA, in Naples the Saint's day (19th of September) becomes a day inked to the miracle that every year occurs: i.e. the liquefaction of the saint's blood. The few drops contained in one ampulla are publicly shown to the Neapolitan people who take the occurrence as a positive sign or omen for the future.

Saint Andrew is celebrated each year in the Amalfi coast on November the 30th and on June 27th with solemn masses, a crowded procession along the streets of the city and a famous run along the steep stairs to the main cathedral by the faithful who carry the heavy statue of the Saint. Not too far from Amalfi, at the bottom of the volcano Vesuvio, the local people of San Giorgio a Cremano celebrate Saint Giorgio with 8 days of feasts, solemn masses, and cultural events such as visits to the Vesuvius Villas and local artisanal shops.

St. Valentine is the Patron Saint of a small town in Umbria, Terni in whose cathedral the Saint's Tomb is revered by all those who are engaged, and who celebrate a "solemn promise of eternal love" on February 14th at the feet of the statue. Saint Zita, patron of the city of Lucca is celebrated on April 27th with a very famous Feast of Flowers to commemorate her. Venice, the city of gondolas and sailors, celebrates its St. Marcus, patron of the city on April 25th with feasts and masses and a tradition of a rose being given to each woman by her lover. St. Michael (September 29th) is celebrated as Patron of our Police Force who, in that day, repeats the solemn promise to keep protecting the Italian people while commemorating and honoring him and his memory.

The list and the descriptions of the celebrations for our Saints could continue for pages while describing specific dishes that are prepared during that day, fireworks, parades in local and traditional costumes, processions that start in the early morning and finish very late at night, races along rivers or at sea with adorned boats and so forth.

In sum, we do not observe and respect our Saints' day just to have a day off in school or at work: for most of us, it is a reminder of how archaic the Italian culture is and how diversified it is while preserving the past in modern forms. These celebrations remind us who we were, and what we would like our children to keep celebrating and honoring in the future.