Italy to Reinstate Oct 4th as a Public Holiday St. Francis of Assisi Day

Italy to Reinstated Public Holiday in Honor of Saint Francis of Assisi’s 800th Anniversary

Italy is set to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi next year by reinstating a national public holiday on 4 October. This will be the first time in nearly half a century that the day will be recognized as a holiday in honor of the beloved saint.

The proposal for the public holiday was introduced by the Noi Moderati party, a small center-right party, and is supported by the ruling right-wing parties. The bill is expected to be easily passed in the lower house on Thursday and then move on to the senate for final approval.

The bill not only calls for school and office closures on 4 October, but also for cultural initiatives to celebrate the life and values of St Francis: peace, fraternity, inclusion, and environmental protection.

This move will bring back 4 October as a public holiday, which was removed in 1977 as part of a law to reduce the number of holidays for economic reasons. For the past 48 years, the feast of San Francesco d’Assisi, one of Italy’s patron saints, has only been recognized on the religious calendar.

Once the bill is passed, October 4th will become a public holiday starting next year. However, in 2026, the date falls on a Sunday, so the tangible effects of the holiday won’t be seen until 2027 when there will be a long weekend in honor of St Francis.

This change will increase the number of national public holidays in Italy to 12, in addition to feast days for local patron saints such as Pietro & Paolo in Rome (29 June) and Ambrogio in Milan (7 December).

St Francis of Assisi, born in 1181, is one of the Catholic Church’s most revered saints and is one of Italy’s two primary patron saints alongside Catherine of Siena. After a dramatic conversion experience, he gave up his wealthy lifestyle to live a life of poverty, preaching, and service.

He is best known for founding the Franciscan religious order and is most associated with Assisi where his tomb is visited by pilgrims from all over the world each year. Francis had a deep love for nature and saw all creatures as his brothers and sisters. His devotion to animals and his teachings on peace and simplicity have made him an esteemed figure.

St Francis was canonized by Pope Gregory IX on 16 July 1228, less than two years after his death on 3 October 1226.