The Italian flag, green white and red. It was the 7 January of the 1797, a few years after the outbreak of the French Revolution, when the banner appeared for the first time which then became our national flag. And that in 1996, on the occasion of its bicentenary, it was decided, with the law 761 of December 31 of that year, to celebrate on this day. Today, therefore, the Italian flag is remembered, in a difficult time for our country and in which we feel the need to be all united under the same symbol. That of the flag is particularly significant, because it is visually important in all the occasions that have seen Italy and the Italians at the center. Not just the institutional ones.
Ansi, the National Association of Italian NCOs, has invited all citizens to display the Tricolor on the balconies and windows. To give a concrete sign of theunity of the nation. Particularly in a difficult time like the one we are all experiencing. That this sense of unity and sharing is perceived by Italians especially in difficult moments, was well understood during the lockdown last spring. When the Italians had flooded the facades of buildings and houses with many, many Tricolors.
It was born in Reggio Emilia as a symbol of the Cispadana Republic
The main celebrations for this day are scheduled in Reggio Emilia, where the flag was born and was officially adopted by a sovereign Italian state, at the time the Cispadana Republic. A constitutionalist, journalist, man of letters from Lugo di Romagna, Giuseppe Compagnoni, had thought of it.
Passing through the Italian Republic of the Napoleonic era and the subsequent Kingdom of Italy, the Tricolor had then become the symbol par excellence of the Risorgimento. It fluttered over the barricades during the Risorgimento riots that led to national unity. In 1861 it became the flag of the country united in the Kingdom of Italy. However, it took almost a century to reach its official recognition with a decree of the Prime Minister. It was July 19, 1946 when the tricolor officially became the flag of the newborn Italian Republic. "The flag of the Republic is the Italian tricolor: green, white and red, in three vertical bands of equal size". Thus article 12 of the Constitution ratified the symbol on March 24, 1947.
This is the story. Why green white and red? The most widespread interpretation has it that green represents that of the valleys, white the snow of our mountains, red the color of the blood of the martyrs who fought for the unification of Italy. But also, in a more strictly religious interpretation, faith, hope and charity, the three theological virtues. If the flag is displayed horizontally, the green must necessarily be the first on the left. If, on the other hand, it is placed vertically, green stands at the top and is followed by white and red.
The Coronavirus has also made its contribution to this anniversary. All the celebrations were held in reduced form and obviously in compliance with safety regulations. TO Reggio Emilia, which gave birth to our flag, this morning the flag raising took place. The Italian one but also the European one, with military honors and the performance of national and European anthems.
The emotion of the Constituent Assembly when it approved the Tricolor
"The Tricolor symbol ofnational identity even in the pandemic ”, so today the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella. Symbol of cohesion and also of emotion. Browsing the site of the Presidency of the Republic, under the heading Tricolore, we read that when the Constituent Assembly confirmed the shape of the new flag included in article 12 of the Constitution, there was a moment of great emotion. So it is reported. "PRESIDENT [Ruini] - I put to the vote the new formula proposed by the Commission: "The flag of the republic is the Italian tricolor: green, white and red, in vertical bands and of equal size". (It is approved. The Assembly and the audience in the stands stand up. Very lively, general, prolonged applause.).
