April 25 – Liberation Day in Italy ~ CookingFood.Org

Posted on April 25, 2016

During World War II, Italy was one of the “enemies.”

And by that, I mean that Italy was part of the “Axis,” fighting WITH the German Nazis and Japan – fighting AGAINST the “Allies” that included the U.S., the U.K., France, U.S.S.R., Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, and Yugoslavia.

Of course, that does not mean that all Italian people were pro-Nazi. As a matter of fact, many, many Italians spent the years before and during WWII actively fighting against their own fascist government. Benito Mussolini was the leader of that government: at first a democratically elected Prime Minister and later a dictator with secret police and almost total control over the people of Italy.

Having a dictator who destroys all political rivals and who controls information and media and education really hurts the people under that “leader.” And that's why the Italian people celebrate the date in 1945 when Allied troops liberated Italy from Nazi occupation and from Mussolini.

Here's how they celebrate:

Parades and marching bands

Do you think of bagpipes as only Scottish?
This photo is labeled "traditional Italian bagpipes."

Music concerts and food festivals

Political rallies

Flags and red-white-and-green colors

Italy is one heck of a gorgeous and fascinating country! Because it is made up of a peninsula jutting into the Mediterranean Sea, plus islands, there are wonderful coasts and beaches and cities made up of canals.

Tropea

Ogliastra, Sardinia

Venice

Italy also has amazing mountain scenery, courtesy of the Alps.

The Dolomites

Lake Como

Italy is of course famous for being the hub of the ancient Roman Empire, and the ruins of its ancient temples and arenas and baths and catacombs are fantastic! Sadder but equally amazing are the towns preserved in volcanic ash when the volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D.