A popular festival in my country.

The Contest of the Bucket

In the late Middle Ages, at Sant’ Elpidio a Mare, there was a shortage of water. So people invented a game: they had to participate in four quarter, each composed of six players. The winning quarter could be the first to drink from the pail.

From 1953 each second Sunday of August is celebrated this game: The Contest of Bucket. A procession, consisting of country folk that wear  vintage clothes, march along in the village’s roads, as for as the main square. When the contest takes place the quarters must hit the bucket, avoiding the adversaries.

Finally they keep the score of all match. The winner quarter will win a copper bucket.

Chiara De Angelis II F

Memorable days in Lithuanian history: THE DAY OF MOURNING AND HOPE

THE DAY OF MOURNING AND HOPE
In Lithuana we have special Days of Memory, when we remember tragic, but very important events in our history – the Day of Mourning and Hope, which we commemorate
on June 14th.


70 years ago, in June 1941 one year after Lithuania and other Baltic states were occupied by the Soviet Union, the the repressive structures, led by Communist party and KGB started massive arrests and deportations of Lithuanian population – the whole families were exiled to Siberia, Altaj region or behind the Polar Circle, by the Laptev Sea. In this way Soviet regime decided to get rid of so called „socally alien elements“. Among them were the most educated part of Lithuanian society - politicians, teachers, officers, journalists, policemen, lawers, bussinessmen and members of their families They had to endure unimaginable hardships, cryelty, injustice and humiliation. The first deportation period lasted only for one week, as on 22 June 1941 Hitler invaded Lituania, but during that week about 13000 people were deported (about 40% of all the exiled were children under the age of 16).



The place were we live, Naujoji Vilnia was the last train station in Lithuania, were men were separated from wives and children, all people put into cattle train vagons and were sent ten thousand kilometres from their motherland into the hell of cold, starvation and physical extermination. (from this deportation suvived only about 5% of Lithuanians.



The daportations continued after the Second World War and during 1945-1952 about 135 500 Lithuanians were deported to Siberia, among them – about 32000 children.
This day is the Day of Mourning ... that thousands of innocent people were killed because of inhumanity, injustice and heartlessness and the Day of Hope ... that it will never happen again.
In the photos you can see the ceremony in Naujoji Vilnia train station by the memorial to the dported Lithuanian people.



The ceremony was opened by Vilnius choir “Laisvė” who sang songs of the exiles. After the moving songs, poets and actors were reading poems, dedicated to the victims of Stalin’s repressions. Among the speakers were Vilnius Mayor A. Zuokas and member of Parliament E. Zingeris, who stated that Lithuania fro Stalinist repressions 1941-1952 lost about 300000 people including the executed, imprisoned in concentration camps and deported citizens.


After the official speeches according to the sounds of music, Lithuanian girls put the garlands of oak-tree leaves on the memorial cross.
One of the most impressive was the speech of Rimantas Kupšys, who was deported the same day as he was born, and after returning to Lithuania became the trainmaster of Naujoji Vilnia train station.


Lina Krilavičiūtė, the member og the organization „Mission – Siberia“ spoke about young people, mainly students, who go to Siberia every year and tidy and restore the cemeteries, where there are graves of Lithuanian people. At the end of the ceremony, everybody sang together with the choir the songs of Lithuanian exiles, full of love to Lithuania and hope to see it again.


Text and photographs by Laura and Dovile


JANUARY 13th THE DAY OF FREEDOM DEFENDERS IN LITHUANIA

On the 13th of January all people of Lithuania are commemorating the Day of Freedom Defenders. 20 years ago the Soviet troops – the Pskov division and the KGB elite Alfa Special Forces attempted to crush the newly reborn Lithuanian state. Some died from the shot wounds; the Soviet tanks crushed some. In total 14 peaceful civilian freedom defenders lost their lives, hundreds more wounded.
The January 13 events are deeply imprinted in the Lithuanians‘ hearts. We can say that this date is one of the most important events in the Lithuanian history. It would be called Lithuania’s ‘Winter War’ which took place in January 1991 and was a crucial for the survival of our nation, because it was our war for Lithuania’s freedom, which was declared in March 1990.
We were not born when tese events happened, but many of those, who were standing in front of tanks and armed soldiers that night by the TV tower were the same age as we are now.

We feel proud of those young people who sacrificed their lives for motherland and freedom.
One of the young men, who was standing in front of the parliament that day wrote: „I had a honour to be amongst thousands in the square in the front of the Parliament, listening to the creaking Soviet tanks coming after they already ‘done their duty for the Soviet motherland’ next to the TV tower. The Parliament was the heart of our statehood, the square around it was a human shield which had nothing just their love of freedom, motherland, believe, hope. Our only weapon was against the Soviet tanks and the Kalashnikovs was our bear arms and our songs, which made a huge crowd as a one body. Then you wait, hoping that by standing on this spot you will be an obstacle on the way of the solders and tanks that will storm the Parliament. You, hope that maybe you will prolong Lithuania’s freedom for a tiny wee second. You and people around you are preparing yourself for a final sacrifice, final duty to your motherland…“


The people, standing there day and night made a miracle – they stopped the soviet tanks, the soldiers retuned to they barracks. A little nation became a big nation – we made the Soviet Empire collapse.
Every year on that day we lit candles at our school, go to the parliament, to the TV tower, where different ceremonies take place. It is interesting to meet the defenders of Lithuanian parliament, listen to their stories about the details of the resistence to Soviet agression, to stant vy the fires and listen to the same songs, which people were singing that tragic night, when bullets broke the song, but did not break the love to motherland and freedom.


The exposition in the Parliament hall shows what primitive guns the defenders had at that time, what letters they wrote to the families and how they were ready to stand against the well armed and trained professional soviet army till their last breath.


We come to see the barricades by the Parliament walls, which were erected during several hours by the defenders and now stand as mute witnesses of those days. We read the inscriptions, made by the people in those days, from the photographs at us look the faces of those who lost their lives for our feedom.

EUROPE DAY

THE EUROPEAN UNION: an interview

Hi guys,

from May 6th to May12th , with a special focus on May 9^th, is Europe Week. A lot of events are organized all over Europe , concerts, seminars, lectures. Also our small town, Macerata, is taking part in the event. Just have a walk around and you’ll come across bars and restaurants decorated with flags of the EU members and each offering food and drinks typical of a particular country.

You won’t believe it , we succeeded to interview our guest of honour, the European Union.

This is what she told us.

REPORTER : Let’s start from your name. Where does the name “ Europe” come from?

EU: Well, in ancient Greek mythology Europe was a Princess, daughter of the king of Tyre. Zeus fell in love with her, kidnapped her and took her to Crete. From that time on Europe marks the land in the north of the Mediterranean Sea.

REPORTER:  We read that you were born in 1957.  Why such a date 9^th May, 1950?

EU: Well,  the first idea of me  came up on 9^th May, 1950. In Paris that day the French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed the creation of a European federation.  He thought France Germany and other countries should be responsible for the management of the coal and steel industry, the sector important for the military power. So there wouldn’t be any more wars between them. They should sit at a table, discuss and make decision together. At the beginning there were just 6 of us, a small club working for peace, now there are…

REPORTER: Yes, we know,  27.

EU: Yes, 27. Look, this is a nice picture of me.  

The family may grow larger. I wouldn’t mind…but of course the new ones can’t join if they don’t respect people’s rights, if they don’t protect minorities, if they don’t have a healthy economy, if they don’t share our aims . So, you see, they must work really hard.

REPORTER: You’re wearing a very nice charm

EU: Oh, yes. This is a jewel I always wear: 12 stars on a blue background. It’s a sort of a little flag, I got it made  in December 1955 when we were a very small family, as I told you.

REPORTER: Why 12 stars? They don’t represent the members of your family, do they?

EU: No, of course not. 12 is the number of the months, of the hours on a clock but it also symbolizes perfection, fullness. Don’t forget that the circle represents unity, my ideal!

REPORTER: You have a motto in your life : “Unity in Diversity”. What does it mean?

EU: I believe in multiculturalism. The  different cultures, languages, traditions are important  for the family. But Europeans must work together for peace, prosperity in spite of all the differences.

I think the poster I was given this year, for the anniversary, represents  this philosophy. It’s really nice.

REPORTER: You said” being together”, it  reminds me of what Euro banknotes have on the front and on the back…

EU: yes,  windows and doorways, they are symbol of cooperation, of our working together. The bridges on the back is a sign of connection to the rest of the world. It was the happiest moment of my life when euro was adopted, on 1^st January 2002. The single currency is one of my achievements.

REPORTER:  OK,  let’s talk about your achievements

EU: Well, I’ll mention just a few: frontier-free travel and trade; I understand that you are attending an agricultural school so you should know I passed regulations about pesticides, about the production of organic food and this means better food and greener environment. And then better living conditions in poor countries, cheaper phone calls, protection of animals on land and oceans, help for the reconstruction of areas hit by natural disasters. Besides I support a lot of activities in education, training, culture. You already know Comenius and Leonardo da Vinci, don’t you? If you go on studying you will be able to join the Erasmus programme for a period of internship abroad.

REPORTER: you have done a lot but  a lot of people are against you.

EU: Yes,  I call them the Eurosceptics. It is so sad and depressing to know that in every member of my family there are eurosceptic movements in some form. And they are also responsible for some of the decisions the members make. Take the Swedish, for example, or the Danish and the British, they rejected the euro.

 Think for a moment : What could replace Europe ? Nothing.  Just a better Europe

REPORTER:  When you feel stressed, how do you relax?

EU: Well I listen to music, watch a good film, work out a bit.

REPORTER: so you do sports…

EU: well when I was younger, I practiced a lot of sports and I even tried bungee jumping, in the 80s. Gosh! How exciting. It was thrilling. Now I’m too old.

REPORTER: What about films? Which one would you choose for a relaxing evening?

EU: “The Spanish Flat” It’s funny. The French university student, Xavier , thanks to one of my programme is able to spend a year abroad, in Barcelona and live an extraordinary experience. It cheers me up.

REPORTER: one last question: music.

EU: Well,  I like all types of music. I used to like the Beatles in the 60s  but now I prefer classical music and I often listen to the Ninth Symphony by Beethoven, especially the prelude to the “Ode to Joy”. I like it so much that I adopted it as my official anthem.

Liberation Day (by 4A)

Liberation day
Many countries around the world celebrate day of liberation, and as the name suggests it marks the day when a place is liberated by an occupying army of some kind. In Italy, April 25, 1945 was the day when the Allied troops and partigian force finally were able to liberate Italy – and today, it commemorates not just that liberation but also is a date when Italians honor their fallen soldiers.In particular, Liberation Day is a day on which to honor the fallen partisans of the Italian Resistance who fought the Nazis as well as Mussolini’s troops throughout World War II.April 25th in Italy public holiday is a day when you’ll see gatherings in towns with marching bands and big flags, political rallies and music concerts.
Origins of italian partisan movement
The resistance movement was initially composed of independent troops often supported by the local population, spontaneously formed by members of political parties previously outlawed by the Fascist regime. Later, the Comitato di Liberazione Nazionale created by the Italian Socialist Party, the Partito d'Azione, Democrazia Cristiana and other minor parties took control of the movement, in accordance with King Victor Emmanuel III 's ministers and the Allies.
Some of the most famous partisan Brigates were:
The Garibaldi brigades
The first Garibaldi Brigades appeared in November 1943; in April 1945 there were 575. Each brigade consisted of 40 to 50 members, divided into four or five groups which in turn were divided into two units of five or six combatants in each.
The Garibaldi brigades made up about half of the armed forces of the partisan army; they were the best organized part and the fittest for battle. In the summer and fall of 1944 the Garibaldi Brigades led the sweeping offensive of the partisan army in central and northern Italy. They were the shock force of the liberating April Uprising of 1945.
The Matteotti Brigades
The brigades Matteotti, during the Resistance, were the Partisans related to the Italian Socialist Party of Proletarian Unity (PSIUP). They were one of the five main political groups that participated in the partisan struggle for national liberation. Giacomo Matteotti Brigades distinguished themselves during the partisan struggle, for its effectiveness, internal discipline and fighting spirit. the place of actions the Matteotti brigade were:Lombardia,Toscana,Piemonte and Veneto.
The Maiella Brigades
In December, 1943, the partisan brigades of Abruzzo, “Maiella Patriotic Groups”, were formed on the banks of the Sangro river,led by capitan Troilo.
The English army made use of this group again in the Germans in January 1944.
After having set Abruzzo free, the group became “Maiella Brigades” and continued the liberation war as far as Bologna and Veneto.
Maiella Brigades, mentioned many times in the allied war bulletins, were the only partisan formation awarded with a gold medal for military valour. It’s battle flag is Kept In the Vittoriano.

International Women's Day (IWD)

Hi, do you really know the story of the International Women’s Day?

Read on and find out.

The first national Woman's Day was  on 28 February 1909 in the United States. In August 1910, the American Socialists went to Copenhagen with the aim to propose the establishment of an International Women's Day, but they were not successful. It was thanks to the German Socialist Clara Zetkin that the following year, 19^th March 1911, there was the first International Woman’s Day.

 In 1917  demonstrations marked International Women's Day in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It was the last Sunday in February by the Julian calendar used in Russia and it corresponded to  8 March on the Gregorian calendar used in the West. So it is not true that the origin of Women's Day goes back to a tragedy that happened in 1908, which had as protagonists of the textile workers of New York Cotton. According to the legend these women, in the days before March 8, began a strike to protest against the terrible conditions they were forced to work. On March 8, Mr. Johnson, the owner of industry, blocked the doors to prevent women from going out. Then there was a fire at the factory and 129 workers died .

Today 8th March is an important day to highlight the economic, political, social, cultural contributions women have made to our world.

A conference was organized in our school on the topic of women writers. The lecturer was Lucia Tancredi, a teacher in the local science school as well as a successful writer. In her opinion men and women ARE different but this doesn’t mean that what women write is of inferior quality, they are able to turn  even an insignificant thing into great literature.  We liked it when she said that “ women write with their own bodies”: these  words  give the idea of all the emotions and feelings that they put in their writings.

All across the world, men give flowers ( in Italy it is the mimosa) and other gifts to the women in their lives - mothers, wives, girlfriends, sisters, teachers, etc. Women usually celebrate by having "women-only" dinners. All around the world women are becoming more powerful in business, entertainment, politics and other areas. There are over a dozen nations today with women leaders. However, IWD is still necessary to highlight the inequality millions of women still face.

But  things are moving in the right direction. In Italy we have some powerful women leaders: just a few example: Camusso who is the leader of one of the most important trade unions,  Marcegaglia who is the head of the Italian Manufacturers’ Association, Elsa Fornero who is the Minister of Labour , traditionally male positions now occupied by women.What  is it  like in your country?
And now enjoy these portraits of women in painting and enjoy the music! . We loved them 

Lithuanian national anthem

The History of Lithuanian State

the history of Lithuanian statehood goes back to the 13th century, when Grand Duke Mindaugas united all Lithuanian lands under one rule and was crowned the King of Lithuania on July 6th, 1253. 

During the following century Lithuanian borders were extended to the south and east, and at the end of the 14th century, during the reign of Grand Duke Vytautas (1392-1430) Lithuania became the largest state in Europe, its borders stretching from the Baltic Sea to the black Sea. 

At that time the state flag of the Great Duchy of Lithuania was red with a white Vytis (an armored knight riding a white stallion leaping forward, with the knight holding a raised sword high over his head). Cronicles mention that at the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, the majority of the 40 Lithuanian regiments carried a red banner depicting a mounted knight, chasing an unseen enemy. Until the end of the 18th century, when they were annexed by the Russian Empire, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the successor states of Lithuania used the Vytis as their flag.This flag, known as the Vytis, would eventually be used as the Lithuanian war flag, and again in 2004 as the state flag.

During the era of national rebirth (end of 19th and beginning of 20th centuries) Lithuanians fought for and sought freedom for their country.After the 1905 revolution, and especially during World War I, Lithuania's hopes of re-establishing an independent state grew vigorously. The hypothesis of independence was not only possible but completely feasible. It was at this time that the question of a national flag for independent Lithuania arose.

                                 The question was especially widely debated in 1917 at the Conference of Vilnius. Several new proposals for flags were proposed. A flag commission composed of Dr. Jonas Basanavicius, artist Antanas Zmuidzinavicius and Tadas Daugirdas submitted a proposal which the Council of Lithuania adopted on April 19, 1918. The newly-adopted Lithuanian flag was composed of three equal horizontal stripes of yellow, green, and red. According to Dr. Basanavicius, the colors were selected because they recur most often in Lithuanian folk weavings arid other folk art. Today, they are explained as follows:

yellow. the fertile fields of Lithuania, golden with ripe rye, wheat, flax, and other grains;

 green : the symbol of the nation's vitality (as represented in nature also);

 red : the blood shed in defending the homeland's freedom.

 The adopted Lithuanian flag was also included in the Lithuanian Constitution. The tricolor was publicly raised for the first time on November 11, 1918 in Vilnius, at the Council of State building. It was widely used during Lithuania's independence until the first Bolshevik occupation in June 1940.

 After the long 48 years break, from 7 October of 1988, the tri-color flag of pre-war, independent Lithuania is raised on Gediminas Castle.

    

Lithuanian Anthem

Tautiška giesmė (The National Hymn) is the national anthem of Lithuania, also known by its opening words "Lietuva, Tėvyne mūsų" ( "Lithuania, Our Homeland", literally: "Lithuania, Our Fatherland", ) and as "Lietuvos himnas" (Hymn of Lithuania). The music and lyrics were written in 1898 by Vincas Kudirka, when Lithuania was still a part of the Russian Empire. The fifty-word poem was a condensation of Kudirka's conceptions of the Lithuanian state, the Lithuanian people, and their past. Shortly before his death in 1899, the anthem was performed for Lithuanians living in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The first public Lithuanian performance of the anthem took place in Vilnius in 1905, and it became the official national anthem in 1919, a year after Lithuania declared its independence. Following the annexation of Lithuania in 1940, by the Soviet Union, the anthem was forbidden to be played or sung in public.
"Tautiška giesmė" was reinstated as the national anthem in 1992, when the new Constitution was ratified after independence from the Soviet Union was achieved. The status of "Tautiška giesmė" as the National Anthem of Lithuania was further confirmed in 1999 with the passage of a national law stating that.

Lietuva, Tėvyne mūsų,
Tu didvyrių žeme,
Iš praeities Tavo sūnūs
Te stiprybę semia.

Tegul Tavo vaikai eina
Vien takais dorybės,
Tegul dirba Tavo naudai
Ir žmonių gėrybei.

Tegul saulė Lietuvoj
Tamsumas prašalina,
Ir šviesa, ir tiesa
Mūs žingsnius telydi.

Tegul meilė Lietuvos
Dega mūsų širdyse,
Vardan tos, Lietuvos
Vienybė težydi!

Official English translation

Lithuania, our homeland,
Land of heroes!
Let your sons draw their strength
From our past experience

Let your children always follow
Only roads of virtue,
May your own, mankind’s well-being
Be the goals they work for

May the sun above our land
Banish darkening clouds around
Light and truth all along
Guide our steps forever

May the love of Lithuania
Brightly burn in our hearts.
For the sake of this land
Let unity blossom.

Constitution day of Norway

Hello, my name is Sigrid and I’m from Norway, Oslo.

The name of my school is Fagerborg. I would like to tell you about our constitution day, a day that everyone in Norway looks forward to.  Here are some facts about “Nasjonaldagen”.

This national holiday celebrates the memory of the men who wrote Norway's Constitution, which was signed at Eidsvoll on 17 May 1814. 17 May also marks independence from centuries of union with Denmark and Sweden.

The day starts in the morning with a salute of cannon and the playing of national anthem, by school bands in towns and villages, fjords and mountains all over the country. Family and friends meet for breakfast and then the children's procession begins, for youngsters it is a day of buns, cakes, ice cream and fizzy pops. They march in the procession each waving a Norwegian flag and wearing ribbons in the Norwegian colours. Every procession is headed by the school band and the teachers carrying flags and banners. In Oslo the celebration is special because of the procession of children singing and marching up main street, Karl Johan, past the Storting and then past the Royal Palace. The Royal Family stands on the balcony and waves as long as the procession lasts. It's a joyful meeting between people and monarch.

I usually start this day very early so that I have enough time to get dressed up in my national dress, called “bunad”. This dress is only used on the national day, at Christmas or other big holidays. The dress changes from each city, and the designs are typically elaborate, with embroidery, scarves, shawls and handmade silver or gold jewelry known as sølje. There are bunads both for men and women, but women’s bunads are more diverse and popular.

Usually kids get this dress before their confirmation. Anyways, after getting dressed I have breakfast with some of my friends and then we spend the rest of the day in the city watching all the flags and the people. In the evening I like to spend time with my family, and we eat nice food and have a good time. 
Here's a photo of me and my sister in our bunad: 

The national anthem:

A 16-YEAR-OLD BOY DIARY

                                    

Macerata 17 marzo 1862

Dear diary, what a day!

I haven't got enough time for you, it is late but I want to tell about the big party we had to celebrate the unity of Italy today, in Macerata, and I also think in all the other towns of Italy. Last year, we didn't have any celebrations, no money to spend! People were also a little disappointed, Macerata was no longer important,  the favourite town after the unity was Ancona.  My family and I and all my neighbours have been busy with the decoration of our houses and the street where we live for almost a month: we put green, white and red flowers everywhere and we hung the ITALIAN FLAG on each balcony.

At school, we revised all the events that brought us to be united and we remembered the people who died for us, including my uncle. I told you about that, the bad news arrived on 18th Semptember 1860: my uncle Enrico had been killed by a bullet in the battle of Castelfidardo, when the troops of General Cialdini defeated the papal forces. I miss him, it was from him that I learned how difficult it is to  do one's duty.

But now back to today. The day began with the Philharmonic Band playing in the square. Then, my friends Nicola, Francesco and I went for a walk in the city centre and ate a lot of sweets. At half past twelve, we had lunch together at my house. My mum is a good cook and guess what she cooked: YES! PASSATELLI, my favourite dish. It was a real treat! After that, I had la rest and my friends went back to their home. At five o'clock I went to the horse race with my dad and my brother. It was exciting and at the end we all cheered the winners singing THE SONGS OF THE  ITALIANS, accompanied by the music of the Philharmonic Band. The first cash prize was 50 liras, while the second one was 25 liras. Then, at seven o'clock we walked back home: all the streets were decorated with fantastic lights: a great show! Everywhere you could hear crackers being let off. Celebrations went on after dinner too, with a fantastic show of fireworks and a concert of the band in the main square.

Now, it is ten o'clock, I'm tired, I am going to bed, but I still feel thrilled, I am thinking about this day, the band, the race and the cash prize, I wish I had so much money! What would I spend the money on, if I had won the horse race: yes, you know, a bike! My eyes are closing...... I hope Italy will still be one nation and people will go on honouring those who died for the unity of our country. What will it be like in the future, let's say... in 150 years?
Good night , diary.

Riccardo

UNITY OF ITALY : THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

UNITY OF ITALY: INNO DI MAMELI

Il Canto degli Italiani (The Song of the Italians) is the Italian national anthem It is best known among Italians as Inno di Mameli or Fratelli d'Italia, from its opening line.

The words were written in  1847 by a 20-year-old student and patriot Goffredo Mameli when people were fighting for the unification and independence of Italy.

Two months later, they were set to music in Turin by Michele Novaro. The hymn enjoyed popularity during the period of the Risorgimento and in the following decades.

After unification, the adopted national anthem was  the Royal March, the official hymn of the Royal House of Savoy composed in 1831 to order of Carlo Alberto of Savoy. The Royal March remained the Italian national anthem until Italy became a republic in 1946.

Verdi in his hymn of the Nations composed for the London international exhibition in 1862 , chose Il Canto degli Italiani to represent Italy, putting it beside God Save the Queen and the Marseillaise.

In 1946 Italy became a republic and on October 12, 1946, Il Canto degli Italiani was chosen as the country's new national anthem. This choice was made official in law only on November 17, 2005, almost 60 years later.

This is the complete text of the original poem written by Goffredo Mameli; however the Italian anthem performed on official occasions is composed of the first stanza, sung twice, and the chorus, then ends with a loud "Sì!" ("Yes!").

Let's try to understand it.

In the first stanza Italy decides to put on the helmet, Scipio's helmet. The helmet symbolizes the war against Austria and Scipio was defeated Annibal in 202 thus ending the second Punic war.

Coorte is not couryard  but a unit of the Roman army! Let's gather in legions.

The third stanza is an invocation to God to protect the loving union of the Italians who are fighting to form their unified nation.

The fourth is about popular heroic figures and moments of Italian independence such as the Vespri Siciliani a rebellion against the French in 1282; the battle of Legnano; Balilla, a boy from Genova who started a revolt in 1746 by throwing a stone; Feruccio a man fro Florence who led the rebellion agaist Charles IV and was killed by an Italian: his famous sentence was: “ you are killing a dead man”.

The last stanza of the poem refers to the part played by Habsburg Austria and Czarist Russia in the partition of Poland, and its searching for independence is compared  to the Italian one.

Fratelli d'Italia,

l'Italia s'è desta,

dell'elmo di Scipio

s'è cinta la testa.

Dov'è la Vittoria?

Le porga la chioma,

ché schiava di Roma

Iddio la creò.

CORO:

Stringiamci a coorte,

siam pronti alla morte.

Siam pronti alla morte,

l'Italia chiamò.

Stringiamci a coorte,

siam pronti alla morte.

Siam pronti alla morte,

l'Italia chiamò!

Noi fummo da secoli^[13]

calpesti, derisi,

perché non siam popolo,

perché siam divisi.

Raccolgaci un'unica

bandiera, una speme:

di fonderci insieme

già l'ora suonò.

CORO

Uniamoci, amiamoci,

l'unione e l'amore

rivelano ai popoli

le vie del Signore.

Giuriamo far libero

il suolo natio:

uniti, per Dio,

chi vincer ci può?

CORO

Dall'Alpi a Sicilia

Dovunque è Legnano,

Ogn'uom di Ferruccio

Ha il core, ha la mano,

I bimbi d'Italia

Si chiaman Balilla,

Il suon d'ogni squilla

I Vespri suonò.

CORO

Son giunchi che piegano

Le spade vendute:

Già l'Aquila d'Austria

Le penne ha perdute.

Il sangue d'Italia,

Il sangue Polacco,

Bevé, col cosacco,

Ma il cor le bruciò.

UNITY OF ITALY: THE ITALIAN FLAG

The Italian flag is known as the Tricolore The design has undergone a lot of changes throughout Italy's history. The country wasn’t unified until 1861 and didn’t become a republic until 1946, so it is easy to understand why the history of   the flags is so chaotic: because of the chaotic history of Italy.

The first official Italian tricolour, was adopted on 7 January 1797 when the Parliament of the Cispadane Republic, on the proposal of deputy Giuseppe Compagnoni that decreed "to make universal the standard or flag of three colours, green, white, red : red and white from the flag of Milan, and green from the uniform of the civic guard. This flag was in the shape of a square, and the three colors were represented in horizontal bands. In the middle of the white there was an emblem composed of a garland of laurel decorated with a trophy of arms and four arrows, representing the four provinces that formed the Republic.

In 1798 the vertical square tricolour without a badge was adopted.

In 1802 a new flag was adopted, this time with a red field carrying a green square within a white lozenge.

In1805 the Italian Republic was transformed into the first Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy. The flag was in rectangular form, with the golden Napoleonic eagle. This remained in use until the abdication of Napoleon in 1814.

During the Risorgimento, the tricolore became the symbol which united all the efforts of the Italian people towards freedom and independence.

On 1 January 1848 the Italian tricolore was adopted in its current form. Article 12 of the Italian Constitution states: “ the flag of the Republic is the Italian Tricolore: green white and red, in three vertical bands of equal dimensions”.

WHAT DO THE COLOURS ON THE ITALIAN FLAG MEAN?

Some have attributed particular values to the colours, and a common interpretation is that the green represents the country's plains and hills; white, the Alps covered with snow; and red the blood spilt in the wars of Italian independence. A more religious interpretation is that the green represents hope, the white represents faith and the red represents charity.

Here are just a few of the flags that have represented Italy in one form or another since the 18th century:

SOMENTHING TO ADD: A MOVING STORY

On 2^nd June, the day celebrating the birth of the Italian Republic, people could see  the flag of Oliosi waving on a cannon during the parade in Rome. In 1866, during the 3^rd war of independence Italian soldiers were attacked by the Austrians at Oliosi. They didn’t want the flag to be taken by the enemy, so they cut it into 13 pieces and each soldiers hid one in his clothes: 11 pieces have been found and resewn . Let's remember this story when we hear how people of an Italian political party would use it.

UNITY OF ITALY HISTORY

Hi everybody,

you know we have been celebrating the 150 anniversary of the Unity of Italy. We have been involved in different projects and on Monday 6th June there was a formal ceremony at school and each of us were given a cockade.

Italy was formed by young people a little older than us who went to fight for an ideal. In a way they remind us of the young Lithuanians who more than a century later were killed by bullets and tanks while trying to liberate the country from the Soviet domination.

We have done a lot of research and this is what we have found out and learnt!

Follow us and you’ll get to know the story of the unification of Italy as well as the story of its symbols: the flag and the national anthem.

Let’s start with a quotation:

“Nessuno sa la durata del periodo di degradazione in cui ti avvolgi, o Italia; ma tutti sanno che non lontana è l’ora solenne del Risorgimento”.

“Noone knows how long the degeneration you are enveloped in will last, o Italy; but everybody knows that the solemn time of Resurgence is not far off”.

Giuseppe Garibaldi Memorie Autobiografiche

Why this word Risorgimento ( Resurgence)? Because after the defeat of Napoleon, the hope of being just one nation had died, Italy had died together with this hope. At that time the word Italy referred just to the boot-shaped peninsula and not to the idea of Italy as a nation.

After the defeat of Napoleonic France, the Congress of Vienna(1815) restored Austrian domination but it left Italy completely fragmented. Italy was like a puzzle and these are the pieces of the puzzle:

the kingdom of Lombardy and Veneto under the Austrian empire,

the Papal States that controlled the centre of the Italian peninsula,

the kingdom of Piedmont –Sardinia under Victor Emmanuel II

the kingdom of Sicily that occupied the southern half of the Italian peninsula and was under Bourbon Ferdinand

the Duchies of Tuscany, under Hapsburg Ferdinand III

the Duchy of Parma, under Napoleon’s wife Maria Luisa

the Duchy of Modena under Hapsburg Francis IV

the Duchy of Lucca under Bourbon Maria Luigia

But the patriots did not give up : nothing could stop them, they did everything secretely: they created secret societies the most important of which was the Carboneria .

Carboneria : that's a weird name. Wondering why this name? Well, carbon was what could start a fire so we think it represented what could start the fire of freedom. The society was at the root of many of the uprisings in Italy from 1820 until after unification. The place where they met was called Baracca and all the members were good cousins and they had to undergo complex initiation rituals. The aim of Carbonari was the creation of a constitutional monarchy or a republic, they wanted also to defend the rights of people against all forms of absolutism: to achieve their purposes, they were ready to commit assassinations and armed uprisings.

                                                                       The 1820s

Two Sicilies insurrection: it was led by Guglielmo Pepe who conquered the peninsular part of the two Sicilies and forced the King Ferdinad I to grant a constitution. Then the King asked for the

Austrian help and the revolutionaries were defeated.

The Pindemont insurrection : it was led by Santorre di Santarosa. The revolt started in Alessandria, where troops adopted the tricolore of the Cisalpine Republic. The king's regent, prince Charles Albert, acting while the king Charles Felix was away, approved a new constitution but when the king returned he asked for help to the Holy Alliance (Russia, Prussia, Austria, France) Di Santarosa's troops were defeated.

THE UPRISINGS WERE A TOTAL FAILURE

 The 1830s

In 1830s a series of insurrections laid the groundwork for the creation of one nation along the Italian peninsula.

In the Duchy of Modena the revolutionaries troops guided by Menotti were first supported by the

Duke and by the French King but later on they had second thoughts and Menotti and other

conspirators were arrested.

At the same time, other insurrections arose in the Papal Legation of Bologna Forlì, Ravenna, Imola, Ferrara, Pesaro, Urbino and in the Duchy of Parma. These successful revolutions adopted the tricolore flag.

Insurrected provinces planned to unite as the United Italian Provinces. Pope Gregory XVI asked for Austrian help against the rebels. The Austrian army suppressed much of the revolutionary movement, and arrested many radical leaders.

AGAIN A COMPLETE FAILURE

All hell broke: the 1840s

In 1848, revolts began first in Lombardy, then on the island of Sicily and in Naples against King Ferdinand, who granted The Kingdom of two Sicilies a constitution.

In February 1848 there were revolts in Tuscany and Ferdinand granted the Tuscans a constitution. On 21 February, Pope Pius IX granted a constitution to the Papal States.

Meanwhile in Lombardy tensions increased until the Milanese and Venetians rose up in revolt on 18 March 1848. The insurrection in Milan succeeded in expelling the Austrian garrison after five days of street fights -18 March till 22 March- (Cinque Giornate di Milano). An Austrian army under Marshal Radetzky besieged Milan, but they were forced to retreat. Soon the King of Sardinia declared war on Austria. He was defeated at the Battle of Custoza on July 24 by Radetzky who regained control of all of Lombardy-Venetia save Venice itself, where a republic was declared under Daniele Manin.

Pius IX fled Rome. Then Garibaldi and other patriots arrived in Rome. In early 1849 a Roman Republic was declared and in March 1849 Mazzini arrived in Rome and was appointed Chief Minister.

Charles Albert declared war to Austria. He was defeated and abdicated in favour of his son Victor Emmanuel II

There remained the Roman and the Venetian Republics. In April a French force was sent to Rome. After a two month Rome capitulated and the Pope was restored.

Garibaldi and Mazzini once again went into exile — Mazzini in London and Garibaldi in New York. Meanwhile, the Austrians besieged Venice, which surrendered and restored order in central Italy and established their control over the Papal Legation.

THE DREAM LASTED JUST A FEW MONTHS

The 1850s

Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour comes on the scene! He hoped to be helped by Britain and France in expelling the Austrians, so he supported them in the Crimean war which Piedmont entered in 1855, but he was unsuccessful, as Italian matters were ignored at the Congress of Paris

On January 14, 1858, an Italian nationalist Felice Orsini attempted to assassinate Napoleon III, the French Emperor. Napoleon tried to do something for Italy. Cavour met with Napoleon III and the two signed a secret agreement. Cavour and Napoleon III agreed to fight against Austria. Piedmont would gain the Austrian territories in Italy (Lombardy and Venice) as well as the Duchies of Parma and Modena while France would gain Piedmont's territories of Savoy and Nice. In order to allow the French to intervene without appearing as the aggressors, Cavour provoked Austria.

The war itself was quite short. ( 2^nd war of independence 59-60) The Austrian troops were defeated at Magenta and then at Solferino

Napoleon III suddenly decided to end the war so he met privately with Franz Joseph at Villafranca and agreed on the outlines of a settlement to the conflict. Pindemont obtained Lombardy and the territories as far as Parma. The Kingdom of Sardinia was made up of most of Northern and Central Italy. Napoleon III gained Savoy and Nice. The Austrians retained Venice.

By the spring of 1860, only four states remained in Italy - the Austrians in Venetia, the Papal States (now minus the Legations), the new expanded Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

The 1860s

The legendary Mille and their expedition

In April 1860 insurrections began in Sicily. Garibaldi with about a thousand volunteers left Genoa and landed in Marsala. He conquered Sicily and then defeated the Neapolitean troops at Volturno. Meanwhile the army of the Kingdom of Sardinia conquered Marche and Umbria. Garibaldi met Victor Emmanuel II near Teano and gave him all the territories he had conquered. After that Garibaldi retired to the island of Caprera.

On February 18, 1861, Victor Emmanuel assembled the deputies of the first Italian Parliament in Turin. On March 17, 1861, the Parliament proclaimed Victor Emmanuel II King of Italy, and on March 27, 1861 Rome was declared Capital of Italy, despite that it was not even in the new Kingdom.

Garibaldi decided to return and in June 1862, he gathered volunteers for the campaign, under the slogan Roma o Morte (Rome or Death).He was defeated in the Aspromonte where he was wounded and imprisoned but finally released.

The seat of government was moved from Turin, the old Sardinian capital, to Florence in 1865.

In 1866 Venice was added to Italy after Prussia defeated Austria in the Seven Weeks' war where Italy sided with Prussia.( 3^rd independence war)

In 1870 Italian troops occupied Rome when French abandoned the city. Rome voted for union with Italy and on July 1871 Rome became capital of united Italy.