Have you ever noticed that on June 2nd everything in Italy is closed? No school, no offices, banks shut and, along the streets of the big cities, soldiers in full uniform, marching bands, and even planes leaving tricolor trails in the sky. But what exactly is celebrated on this date? In this article you’ll discover the history of the Festa della Repubblica, the vocabulary linked to Italian history, and some surprising trivia.
La Festa della Repubblica [The Republic Day] Explained Well
June 2nd is one of the most important dates on the Italian calendar: it’s the Festa della Repubblica [Republic Day]. But behind this holiday lies a fascinating story, made of kings, referendums, and moments that changed the face of the country forever.
Italy Before 1946: a Wounded Country
To understand what happened on June 2nd, 1946, we need to take a step back. Actually, several steps back, all the way to the moment the country was born.
A Monarchic Italy
From 1861, the year of the Unification of Italy, until 1946, Italy was a monarchy. This means that the head of State was not a president elected by the people, but a king. The royal family was that of the Savoy, a very ancient dynasty that had governed Piedmont for centuries.
Linguistic note: in Italian we say “i Savoia” using the surname in the plural to indicate the entire family. It works this way also with other famous families: “i Medici”, “i Borgia”, “i Visconti”. If instead we say “la famiglia Rossi”, we use “Rossi” in the singular.
The Ventennio Fascista and the War
In 1922 Benito Mussolini rises to power and the ventennio fascista [twenty years of fascism] begins. The king of the time, Vittorio Emanuele III, instead of opposing Mussolini, entrusts him with the government.
Mussolini brings Italy into the Second World War alongside Nazi Germany. The result is a total disaster: bombed cities, millions of deaths, hunger, destruction. Italy comes out of the war on its knees, and many Italians wonder whether the blame also lies with the king, who didn’t stop Mussolini.
Useful expression: when a country is “in ginocchio” [on its knees], it means it’s in a dramatic situation, of great weakness. It can also be used for people: “Dopo quel periodo difficile, era in ginocchio” [After that difficult period, he was broken].
The Abdication of Vittorio Emanuele III
In May 1946, sensing that the wind is changing, Vittorio Emanuele III decides to abdicate, that is, to give up the throne, in favor of his son Umberto II. He hopes in this way to save the monarchy, giving a new and less compromised face to the kingdom. As we’ll see, however, it won’t work.
The Referendum of June 2nd, 1946: Monarchy or Republic?
We finally reach the key date. On June 2nd, 1946 (and actually also June 3rd, because voting lasted two days) Italians are called to the polls to decide a fundamental question: continue with the monarchy or become a republic?
What a Referendum Is
This type of vote is called referendum, and in Italian it’s pronounced exactly as it’s written: re-fe-rén-dum. It’s a Latin word that literally means “things to refer”, that is, “things to ask the people”.
The Results of the Vote
The Republic wins with about 54% of the votes, against 46% for the monarchy. Not an overwhelming triumph, but a clear victory: about 12.7 million votes against 10.7 million.
| Option | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Republic | About 54% | ≈ 12.7 million |
| Monarchy | About 46% | ≈ 10.7 million |
On June 13th, 1946 Umberto II leaves Italy and departs into exile for Portugal, where he will settle in the small town of Cascais and where he will live until his death, without ever setting foot in Italy again. His father Vittorio Emanuele III, instead, had already gone into exile in Egypt right after the abdication in May.
Trivia: Umberto II was king for only 34 days. It’s precisely for this reason that he is remembered with the nickname “il Re di Maggio” [the May King].
An Italy Split in Two
The vote revealed a geographically divided Italy. The North voted massively for the Republic, while the South preferred the monarchy. In Naples, even, the monarchy got almost 80% of the votes. From that day was born also the famous expression “Regno del Sud” [Kingdom of the South], used jokingly to indicate the southern regions most attached to the crown.
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Join the LearnAmo AcademyThe Big News: Women Vote in Political Elections
There’s a fundamental aspect that is often forgotten: June 2nd, 1946 was the first time in the history of Italy that women were able to vote in a national and political election.
Almost a Century Without the Right to Vote
For almost a century since the Unification of Italy, Italian women had not had the right to vote: half the population could not decide anything about their own country.
Actually, Italian women had already voted a few months earlier, on March 10th, 1946, but in the administrative elections, that is, to choose the mayors of their towns. June 2nd, however, was the first time they took part in a national consultation. And they participated en masse: about 13 million women went to vote. To discover the female figures who marked the history of the country, you can read the guide on important Italian women.
The Lipstick Curiosity
In view of the vote, women were advised not to wear lipstick. The reason? The ballot paper had to be sealed with saliva, a bit like you do with letter envelopes. The authorities feared that lipstick could leave traces on the ballot, and any identifying mark would have made it void, that is, not valid.
The Corriere della Sera even published an article titled “Senza rossetto nella cabina elettorale” [Without lipstick in the voting booth], advising women to carry their lipstick with them and to put it on only after voting.
And Today? How June 2nd Is Celebrated
June 2nd in Italy is a national holiday: schools closed, offices closed, and many people take the opportunity to make a ponte [bridge]. This day is closely linked to the functioning of the institutions: to dive deeper, you can check out the guide on the Italian political system.
Useful vocabulary: “fare un ponte” [to make a bridge] doesn’t mean to build a bridge, but to connect a holiday to the weekend in order to take more days off. For example: “Il 2 giugno è di mercoledì? Allora prendo le ferie giovedì e venerdì e mi faccio un ponte fino a domenica!” [Is June 2nd on a Wednesday? Then I’ll take Thursday and Friday off and make a bridge until Sunday!].
The Military Parade at the Fori Imperiali
The most important event takes place in Rome, along the Fori Imperiali. There’s a great military parade in the presence of the President of the Republic, members of the Government, and many authorities. Soldiers, carabinieri, police, firefighters, and civil protection all march.
The Frecce Tricolori
The most spectacular and photographed moment is that of the Frecce Tricolori [Tricolor Arrows]: military planes that draw in the sky the three stripes of the Italian flag, green, white, and red.
Moreover, that day it’s possible to visit for free the Quirinale Gardens, that is, the gardens of the official residence of the President of the Republic. A unique occasion, because they are usually closed to the public. For other information of this kind, you can check out the guide on curiosities about Italy.
Vocabulary of History and Politics
Here’s a table with the key vocabulary found in this article, useful for talking about historical and political events in Italian.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Monarchia [Monarchy] | Form of government led by a king or queen |
| Repubblica [Republic] | Form of government with an elected head of State |
| Referendum [Referendum] | Popular vote on a specific question |
| Abdicare [To abdicate] | To give up the throne |
| Esilio [Exile] | Forced removal from one’s own country |
| Scheda nulla [Void ballot] | Invalid ballot paper |
| Fare un ponte [To make a bridge] | To connect a holiday to the weekend |
| Essere in ginocchio [To be on one’s knees] | To be in a situation of great weakness |
Frequently Asked Questions
What Exactly Is Celebrated on June 2nd?
The Festa della Repubblica [Republic Day] is celebrated, commemorating the referendum of June 2nd, 1946, with which Italians chose to transform Italy from a monarchy into a republic.
Who Was the Last King of Italy?
The last king of Italy was Umberto II, nicknamed “il Re di Maggio” [the May King] because he reigned for only 34 days. After the referendum he went into exile in Portugal, where he lived until his death.
Is It True that Women Voted for the First Time on June 2nd, 1946?
As far as national elections are concerned, yes: June 2nd, 1946 was the first time. However, Italian women had already voted on March 10th, 1946 in the local administrative elections, to choose the mayors of the towns.
Why Were Women Advised Not to Wear Lipstick?
Because the ballot paper had to be sealed with saliva. Lipstick could have left a mark on the ballot, and any identifying mark would have made it void, that is, not valid.
How Is June 2nd Celebrated Today?
With a great military parade in Rome, along the Fori Imperiali, in the presence of the President of the Republic. The most spectacular moment is the flyover of the Frecce Tricolori, which color the sky green, white, and red.
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