Tree Day has long been celebrated in Italy as a holiday of renewal and unity between man and nature.
The history of the Festival of the Tree goes back to the distant past, when people lived in close connection with nature and gave it due respect. In ancient culture, the custom of organizing celebrations on the occasion of tree planting was widespread. They were assigned enormous importance, and therefore all trees were divided into Olympic, divine, heroic, sinister, fortunate, unhappy, and forests were distinguished as sacred, divine and worldly.
The ancient Celts and Romans guarded and consecrated forests, thus following the tradition of worship of divine nature. During the Roman era, a real celebration was held called the «feast of Lucaria», during which, in addition to traditional rites of veneration, forest areas planted in previous months were honored.
In Italy, the first Tree Festival was celebrated in 1898 on the initiative of the Minister of Education Guido Bacelli. And in 1923, it was decided to assign an official character to this tradition and enshrine it in forest law.
The celebration was held regularly on a national scale until 1979, and subsequently responsibility for all preparations passed to areas that still continue to organize significant events with greater or lesser dedication.
Every year in Italy, Tree Day brings together a large number of people. All together, adults and children demonstrate the willingness and right to live in a supportive environment. Volunteers from all over the country meet to green the back streets of their city, parks, squares and gardens, thus showing love and respect for nature.