Italy's Tree Day

Italy is a green country full of trees.It has long been celebrated in Italy as a holiday of renewal and unity of man with nature.

The prehistory of the tree festival goes back to the distant past, when people lived in close connection with nature and gave it due respect. In ancient culture was widespread custom to arrange festivals on the occasion of planting trees. They were given great importance, in connection with which all trees were divided into Olympic, divine, heroic, sinister, lucky, unhappy, and forests were distinguished as sacred, divine and worldly.

The ancient Celts and Romans guarded and consecrated forests, thus following the tradition of worshipping the divine nature. In the Roman era, a real celebration called the “Feast of Lucaria” was held, during which, in addition to traditional rites of worship, forest areas planted in previous months were honored.

In Italy, the first tree festival was celebrated in 1898 at the initiative of the Minister of Education Guido Bachelli. And in 1923 it was decided to assign this tradition an official character and enshrine in the forest law.

Celebrations were held regularly on a national scale until 1979, after which the responsibility for all preparations passed to the regions, which still continue to organize significant events with more or less efficiency.

Every year in Italy, tree day brings together a large number of people. Together, adults and children demonstrate a willingness and right to live in a supportive environment. Volunteers from all over the country meet to green the nooks of their city, parks, squares and gardens, thus showing love and respect for nature.