Symbolics of Italy

On May, 5th, 1948 the Italian republic, has found the arms. Creative process of its creation proceeded almost two years. 500 persons among whom were both professional artists, and laymans have taken part in two declared competitions nearby. In total 800 sketches have been presented. The decision on creation of the arms of Italy was accepted in October, 1946. Government Gasperi has founded the special Commission (under the chairmanship of Ivanoe Bonomi) which has started to work with the big enthusiasm. It has been decided to declare open competition on all country with following conditions: on the arms the Star of Italy, and also symbolics of the earths and municipalities should be displayed. Thus use символик political parties was strictly forbidden. The award at a rate of 10.000 lyres (that for today makes about 500.000 lyres) has been promised to authors of five best works.

The treatment of the arms of Italy

Еhe Arms of the Italian republic consists of 3 elements: - stars - a cogwheel - olive and oak branches. The star is one of the most ancient iconographycalimages of Italy. It always associated with image of this country which as it is considered, lights up the radiant light. Such it represented in an iconography of times of Risordzhimento, and such it has existed on the big arms of incorporated Kingdom up to 1890. Then, at the time of Reconstruction, the star crowned with itself a republican sign on honour - the Star of the Italian solidarity. Today its presence specifies in an accessory to armed forces of Italy. The steel cogwheel is a symbol of work and reflects the first article of the Constitutional law in which it is told:“ Italy – the democratic republic based on work.”The olive Branch symbolises the peaceful disposition of the nation meaning aspiration to the internal consent in the country and an international brotherhood behind its limits. The oak branch speaks about force and advantage of the Italian people. At the same time, both these branches represent two most typical kinds of the Italian vegetation.

The author of the arms of Italy

Paolo Pasketto was born on February, 12th, 1885 in Torre Peliche, in a province of Turin (has died in the same place on March, 9th, 1963). With 1914 for 1948 was the professor at the Roman institute of the Fine arts. In painting was многосторонен: was engaged in a drawing and a xylographie, painted in oils and took a great interest in frescos; passed from religious themes to landscapes. Besides, was the author of numerous stamps, including marks of the first release for air mail.

The flag of Italy

 National colours of Italy, has appeared for the first time in kingdom Emilija on January, 7th, 1797 when the parliament of Tsispadansky republic, under the offer of deputy Juseppe Kompanoni, has decided:“ ... Use of a three-coloured green-white-red Tsispadansky flag becomes universal. The same colours should be present on Tsispadansky to a cockarde.”But why these three colours are represented on a national flag of Italy? The matter is that in 1796 in Italy occupied by victorious Napoleonic army, numerous Iakobinian republics which have arisen on a place it is feudal states, almost all used flags with three strips of the identical size and some variations of colours (on the sample of French model 1790). The Italian military groups created for support of army of Bonaparte, had banners of the same kind. Moreover, on regimental banners of the Lombardijsky legion, already there were white, red and green colours which since old time have strongly taken roots in this region. Really, white and red colours existed on the ancient arms of the Milan commune (a red cross on a white background) while green, till 1782, was colour of the form of Milan municipal guards. The same colours have appeared, subsequently, on banners of the Italian legion which soldiers have been called from the earths Emilija and Romagna. Most likely it also has served as the reason of that the above-stated three colours began to be used on a flag of Tsispadansky republic. In the centre of a white strip the republic arms – a quiver with four arrows, decorated with military trophies and surrounded with a wreath from laurel leaves have been represented.

Hymn of Italy - the official text "Fratelli d'Italia"

L'Italia s'è desta

Dell'elmo di Scipio

S'è cinta la testa.

Dove'è la Vittoria?.

Le porga la chioma;

Chè schiava di Roma

Iddio la creò.

Stringiamoci a coorte,

Siam pronti alla morte:

Italia chiamò!

Noi siamo da secoli

Calpesti e derisi,

Perchè non siam popolo,

Perchè siam divisi;

Raccolgaci un'unica

Bandiera, un speme;

Di fonderci insieme;

Già l'ora suonò.

Stringiamoci a coorte,

Siam pronti alla morte:

Italia chiamò!

Uniamoci, amiamoci;

L'unione e l'amore

Rivelano ai popoli

Le vie del Signore:

Giuriamo far libero

Il suolo natío;

Uniti per Dio

Chi vincer ci può?.

Stringiamoci a coorte,

Siam pronti alla morte:

Italia chiamò!

Dall'Alpi a Sicilia

Dovunque è Legnano

Ogni uom di Ferruccio:

Ha il cuor e la mano.

I bimbi d'Italia

Si chiamano Balilla:

Il suon d'ogni squilla

I vespri suonò.

Stringiamoci a coorte,

Siam pronti alla morte:

Italia chiamò!

Son giunchi che piegano

Le spade vendute:

Già l'Aquila d'Austria

Le penne ha perdute.

Il sangue d'Italia

E il sangue polacco

Bevè col Cosacco

Ma il cor le bruciò

Stringiamoci a coorte

Siam pronti alla morte:

Italia chiamò!

English translation: Italian brothers

Italy has arisen,

With Scipio's helmet

binding her head.

Where is Victory?

Let her bow down,

For God has made her

The slave of Rome.

Let us gather in legions,

Ready to die!

Italy has called!

We for centuries

Have been downtrodden and derided,

Because we are not a people,

Because we are divided.

Let one flag, one hope

Bring us together;

The hour has struck

For us to join forces.

Let us gather in legions,

Ready to die!

Italy has called!

Let us unite and love one another;

For union and love

Reveal to peoples

The way of the Lord

Let us swear to free

Our native soil;

If we are united under God,

Who can conquer us?

Let us gather in legions,

Ready to die!

Italy has called!

From the Alps to Sicily,

Everywhere it is Legnano;

Every man has the heart

and hand of Ferruccio.

The children of Italy

Are all called Balilla;

Every trumpet blast

Sounds the (Sicilian) Vespers.

Let us gather in legions,

Ready to die!

Italy has called!

Mercenary swords

Are feeble reeds,

And the Austrian eagle

Has lost his plumes.

This eagle that drunk the blood

of Italy and Poland,

togheter with the Cossack,

But this has burned his gut.

Let us gather in legions,

Ready to die!

Italy has called!

 Lyrics: Goffredo Mameli, 1847Music: Michele Novaro, 1847

Adopted: 1946