Dear Readers,

July is the month we in the USA celebrate July 4th, our 1776 Declaration of Independence from the Monarchy and rule of England’s King George III (1738- 1820, King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760. King George III, the grandson of George II was a man of exemplary morals and pleased his subjects, except for those in America.)

England was unwilling to give up its thirteen colonies and tried to keep them by force. The war for independence lasted nearly seven years. General George Washington commanded the American armies, led them to victory and became the first president of the new republic, after England made peace in 1783 and agreed to recognize the United States as a free and independent nation.

In Italy, after World War II, the Italians were asked to vote in a referendum to choose the return to the monarchy or a republican form of government. Today “Festa della Repubblica” is celebrated by Italian-American organizations throughout the United States and the June 2nd (1946) date is an Italian holyday.

On June 2, the President of Italy hosts a great party in the gardens of the Quirinale residence, with guests from every walk of life. At Italian consulates throughout the world, the Consul General traditionally hosts a party on Italian Republic Day.

In California and other parts of the United States many Italo-American organizations organized Italian republic Day ceremonies and celebrations, however, while many Italian-Americans are happy to celebrate and enjoy fun, food and friendship, they are often a bit nebulous about the details and significance of the date June 2, 1946.

In San Jose, California an Italian American Heritage Foundation founder, the late Domenic Cirincione, organized the first Italian Republic Day observance in Northern California and the tradition in the hands of IAHF continues.

A record crowd gathered at the Santa Clara County Government Building on Hedding Street for the flag raising ceremony to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Italian Republic, co-sponsored by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and the Italian American Heritage Foundation. The Honorable Pete McHugh, County Supervisor, served as Master of Ceremonies.

Among the attendees was Rod Diridon, who was instrumental after the passing of Dominic Cirincirone in keeping this traditional celebration on the calendar. Other dignitaries introduced were Ron Swegels, Mayor of Sunnyvale, Tony Spitaleri, City Council member City of Sunnyvale, Dave Cortese and Chuck Reed, both San Jose City Council members and members of the Santa Clara County/Province of Florence, Italy Sister County Commission.

Guest Speaker was The Honorable Silvia Raviola Jercinovich, Vice Consul of Italy in San Jose, who presented a great review of Italy's history leading up to the National election on June 2, 1946, when the vote was in favor of a parliamentary republic.

Following are excepts from her presentation which I am sure you will find interesting and informative:
Many Americans of Italian descent living in our Valley do not know the significance of June 2, 1946, as it relates to a very important date in the history of Italy.

The history of Italy is long and complicated, but as a legal entity, "Italy" did not exist until the last third of the 19th century. In 1861 most of Italy was unified, except for Rome which remained under the Papacy for another decade. Rome was incorporated into Italy in 1870. It was then that the various principalities, city-states and other areas of the so-called "boot" were united into one political entity ruled by the House of Savoy as a constitutional monarchy. In October 1922 with the famous March on Rome, Mussolini took power, and would remain in power for twenty years. The King was allowed to remain as a ceremonial figurehead even during fascism.

Mussolini's fascist government ruled until July 1943. Opponents were jailed or exiled, racist laws against Jews were passed and the alliance with Hitler was formed. This led to Italy's participation in WWII as an ally of the German Nazi government in 1940. In July 1943, the King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele III, who 20 years earlier had wanted Mussolini as his prime minister, saw it as his duty to save the Monarchy and end Mussolini's two decade rule.

On July 25, 1943, the King received Mussolini for what Mussolini thought were the usual weekly meetings in Rome. Mussolini was instead arrested and a new government was formed, under the auspices of the King. The new government declared war against Germany, which responded by invading Italy and freeing Mussolini, who formed the Italian Socialist Republic in the city of Salo' in northern Italy.

The allies eventually arrived in Italy, led by the Americans, and liberated northern Italy and the rest of the country from German occupation in April 1945.

On May 9, 1946, King Umberto became Italy's last king after the abdication of his father, Vittorio Emanuele III, whose ability to rule had been compromised by his acquiescence to Mussolini's dictatorship. Finally, on June 2, 1946, following twenty years of Fascism, five years of a grueling war and confusing political times, the Italian people were asked to vote in a referendum to choose between a Republican form of government or a return to the Monarchy.

The evening before the referendum, King Umberto reassured the Italian people that he would not interfere with the decision by issuing this message: "Italians! Now on the eve of the vote through which you will choose between monarchy and republic, I wish to again speak to you openly and sincerely. As I have already repeatedly declared, I will accept the people's free choice, and I add that I will ask the faithful backers of the monarchy to also respect without reserve the majority's decision".

June 2 was already a symbolic date, as it was the anniversary of Giuseppe Garibaldi's death in 1882. Voting was to take place on both Sunday and Monday. Bars and cafés were ordered closed during the voting to avoid drunken riots and scenes.

The Italian people lined up at polling places around Italy to cast the historic vote. Nearly half of all voters were women. The king and queen, Umberto and Maria Jose', also voted, although they had some slight problems at the polls when they showed up to vote without bringing identification!

The ballot itself was a simple paper headed by the wording "Referendum on the Institutional Format of the Country" with two pictures of the Italian peninsula on which were superimposed the symbols of the monarchy or the republic, and a box next to each picture for the voter to mark.

The first results showed a very close race, with the next few days characterized by reports of victory for one or the other form of government.

The final tally showed a victory for a Republican form of government. 54% of the voters chose a Republic, leading to the end of the Monarchy and peaceful exile for Umberto and the royal family. Later, the Italian constitution was adopted on January 1, 1948.

The many events leading to June 2, and the vote itself, all combined to make it one of Italy's most important historical dates, which is why the date was later declared a national holiday.

The IAHF welcomes new members, for more information cal or write 425 N. Fourth Street, San Jose, CA 95112, Tel. (408) 293-7122. And circle the dates Sep. 29 to Oct. 1, 2006, the 26th Annual IAHF Italian Festa, to be held on Santana Row, San Jose, this year. I love the Santana Row location.

If your budget permits, plan ahead to check into Hotel Valencia, (408) 551-0010, with balcony right on Santana Row and enjoy the IAHF Festa for a couple of days as well the smart shops Escada, Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Taryn Rose (stylish shoes for your tired feet) plus 66 shops, 18 restaurants, Maggiano’s Little Italy, 5 spas, bookstores, cinema and the Winchester Mystery House right around the corner. For more information:
www.santanarow.com.

 

10631 Vinedale Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352 - Phone (818) 767-3413 - Fax: (818) 767-1410