Saint Francis Day is Italy's new national holiday
Saint Francis Day is Italy's new national holiday, and the first one falls on a Sunday.
4 October is Saint Francis Day again. Parliament restored it as a national holiday in 2025 (Law 151/2025, in force since 1 January 2026), almost 50 years after it was cut. The date marks the death of Francis of Assisi, on the evening of 3 October 1226, so this year is also the 800th anniversary. He has been Italy's patron saint since 1939, together with Catherine of Siena.
Why it disappeared: in 1977 a law cut several religious holidays to add working days and boost productivity. Saint Joseph, Ascension, Corpus Christi and Saints Peter and Paul went too. Epiphany came back in 1985. Saint Francis came back this year.
The fine print for workers: when a national holiday falls on a Sunday, you lose the day off but not the pay. Under Law 260/1949, private-sector employees on a monthly salary get one extra day's pay, usually 1/26 of the monthly wage. Hourly workers get one sixth of their weekly contract hours. Collective contracts can pay more, and public employees follow their own rules.
In Assisi, President Sergio Mattarella attends the 9:45 Mass in the Upper Basilica, live on Rai 1, and speaks from the loggia of the Sacred Convent.
The first real day off comes next year: Monday 4 October 2027.
Voice: AI-generated. Sources: Law 151/2025 (Gazzetta Ufficiale, 10 October 2025), Law 54/1977, Law 260/1949, Confindustria Toscana Centro e Costa, Umbria 24, Famiglia Cristiana.
