Catholicism, the main religion in Italy has shaped the traditions of celebrating local feasts and holidays.
Many of the towns and cities observe local patron saint’s day and prepare long lasting processions commenced around the main churches and market squares.
The most spectacular are celebrated during Easter Week, like Sicilian Passion Days, ceremonies in Asissi, and the unusual custom of breaking the cart in Florence ( Scoppio del Carro ) aimed to provide the prosperous year. Pope’s blessing during Easter Sunday is broadcasted to many of the countries all over the world.
Ten days before Ash Wednesday in many of places starts the Carnevale, the most famous is the one in Venice, which this year commences between 6th-16h February 2010.

1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Jan Epiphany
Feb/Mar Carnival
Mar/Apr Easter
Mar/Apr Easter Monday
25 Apr Anniversary of the Liberation
1 May Labor Day
2 June Republic Day
29 June St Peter and St Paul’s Day
15 Aug Assumption Day (Ferragosto )

4 Nov (Sunday closest to ) WWI Victory Day
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
6 Dec St Nicholas Day

8 Dec Immaculate Conception
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day

Local patron saint’s day in chosen cities

25 Apr Venice St Mark’s Day
24 June Florence,Genua and Pisa St John the Baptist’s Day
14 July Palermo St Rosalia’s Day
19 Sept Naples St Gennaros Day
7 Dec Milan St Ambrogio’s Day
29 June Rome St Peter and St Paul’s Day (also national holiday )
Rome’s Birthday (Sunday before 21 April)