Today, March 25, is Dantedì, a day that some believe signifies the commencement of the extraordinary journey of the Supreme Poet, who embarked on this path midway through his life in the year 1300. Conceived by the journalist Paolo Di Stefano, inspired by the well-established Joycean Bloomsday, Dantedì was first commemorated in 2020 amidst the pandemic. It was a time when, perhaps more than ever, the notion of emerging from the shadows of despair to “see the stars again” resonated deeply, reflecting the journey of the poet and his guide from Hell. However, the exact date of this celebration remains somewhat ambiguous, as various scholars, relying on intricate liturgical and astronomical calculations, propose alternative dates; for instance, Natalino Sapegno suggested April 8.
However, that is not the primary issue. Dante is hailed as the Father of the Italian language, a figure of reverence celebrated daily in secondary schools across the Peninsula and its islands. This occurs despite the begrudging reactions of countless generations of obstinate students. So, let us raise a toast to Dante and to yet another day dedicated to his legacy, even if it seems somewhat superfluous. The calendar is replete with numerous “Days/Days of” various themes, both national and international.
This piece by Dante is distinctly Italian, yet it aligns with a relentless crescendo of March that, akin to Nature, never stops: the 20th commemorates the International Day of Happiness, the 21st marks World Poetry Day, the 22nd focusses on Water, the 23rd emphasises Meteorology, and the 24th dedicates itself to the fight against tuberculosis (all World Days, naturally). Meanwhile, the 26th currently stands vacant, poised for the imminent arrival of the significant World Theatre Day the day after tomorrow. Moreover, that’s just the beginning.
Every day brings its own share of suffering, as the saying goes, yet some days seem to carry an abundance of it. In keeping with the previously mentioned date, March 21 also marked the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the International Day of Forests, World Down Syndrome Day, and the International Day of Nowruz—an occasion that may appear to the uninitiated as a term from a fanciful extraterrestrial dialect, yet to the erudite, it signifies the ancient Iranian New Year. Quite the remarkable convergence of five observances in a single day, indeed a notable feat in the annals of time.
And yet, there exists a record that numerous other days seem intent on overshadowing (thus far without success, but one can never be certain): for instance, just yesterday, the 24th of March was not only the International Day for the Right to the Truth regarding Serious Violations of Human Rights and for the Dignity of Victims, but also the World Day for the Fight against Tuberculosis and the National Day for the Promotion of Reading. April 23rd is particularly noteworthy as it marks English Language Day, which is closely linked to Spanish Language Day. Just three days prior, we celebrated the Chinese language. Additionally, this date is significant for World Book and Copyright Day, as well as the global observance of the Day against the Persecution of Christians in the World.
October 2nd marks Grandparents’ Day, following closely on the heels of International Day of Older Persons and World Habitat Day, which is rather fitting. It also coincides with Guardian Angels’ Day, a reminder that grandparents often serve as the earthly guardians for children whose parents may be preoccupied with work. Additionally, it is International Nonviolence Day and International Smile Day, both of which can certainly be celebrated peacefully.
May 9, marking the anniversary of Aldo Moro’s murder, serves as the National Day of remembrance for victims of terrorism. However, this solemn occasion faces the potential of being eclipsed by the simultaneous celebrations of Europe Day and World Slowness Day—an ironic nod to the leisurely pace of European integration.
In certain instances, cohabitation appears to present more challenges. June 21 marks World ALS Day, coinciding with the national day dedicated to the battle against leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Might it be possible for one of these observances to shift by even a mere 24 hours? This could help prevent the dilution of focus on critical issues that deserve our full attention. Nonetheless, in an effort to restore balance or perhaps to elevate their mood, June 21 is also celebrated as the Day of Music, and thus: zum-zum!
And May Day, did you really believe it was merely a celebration of Labour Day? Absolutely not, it is indeed the Day (and even the world) of laughter: the very one that “the powers that be” (as was often remarked during the era when communists were said to consume children) shared when, as is well known, “after the holiday, the saint is ridiculed”?
To put it succinctly, there is truly something to cater to every preference: one hundred and eighty-eight Days is noted on Wikipedia, which, interestingly, omits Mother’s Day and Father’s Day from its listings (though it does include, as previously mentioned, Grandparents’ Day and Valentine’s Day for those in love), suggesting that the figure is undoubtedly a conservative estimate. These peculiarities are not merely the creations of obsessive groups; rather, they frequently involve significant entities such as national governments, the European Union, the Council of Europe, UNESCO, and the United Nations, all of which contribute through specific resolutions.
From the very outset, there has been no peace, starting on January 1st, which is ironically designated as the Day of Peace—an initiative backed by the Catholic Church, though one might also note the observance on September 21st, championed by the United Nations. And then we set off: Days of solemn significance: take, for instance, Remembrance Day on January 27th; or the commemoration of the foibe on February 10th, stripped of any misleading political embellishments; observances for various diseases, campaigns against discrimination, and numerous commendable social causes; and the multiple days dedicated to the fight against slavery—might there not be a potential for confusion with so many?
However, and most importantly, on numerous occasions… how shall I express it? Let us casually highlight a selection: Cat Day, orangutan Day, grappa Day, Pi Day, drawing Day, dance Day, jazz Day (wasn’t the music day enough?), bee Day (but there’s also mosquito Day), game day, yoga Day, bicycle Day, wind day, kiss Day, plastic bottle cap collection Day, massellanza Day (too long to explain, look it up online), sexual well-being Day, zombies Day (you read that right), mail day, kindness Day. Even though it may sound like a jest, it’s true: it occurs on the first Friday of February. Odd Socks Day was established with the commendable aim of fostering awareness and acceptance of diversity—albeit through the rather whimsical medium of socks. Many writers have recently engaged with this peculiar theme, producing a variety of imaginative reflections.
Excellent, fantastical, and peculiar reasons: all part of an inflationary excess that presents a unique and not incidental juxtaposition with the prevalent tendency to swiftly forget, dismiss, overlook, and undervalue. Ultimately, what lingers from so many Days/Days—though, it must be noted, in certain instances regrettably—if not a handful of posts from those involved, a few fleeting mentions in the news, and some rather uninspired conferences? However, what truly matters is having formalised them, ensuring that one’s conscience is at rest (which observes its International Day on April 5). And then, once more, off it goes, zum-zum!
+ There are no comments
Add yours