St. Francis of Assisi's Day
🇮🇹 Italy
- Public Holiday
- Countrywide
- Fixed date
Overview
St. Francis of Assisi's Day honors Saint Francis, the medieval friar from Assisi who founded the Franciscan order and is a patron saint of Italy. It falls on his feast day, October 4, and is observed as a public holiday in Italy, known locally as San Francesco d'Assisi.
What It Is
The day is a public holiday in Italy, marked every year on October 4. Its focus is Assisi, the Umbrian hill town where Francis was born and is buried, and where religious services and civic ceremonies take place around the Basilica of San Francesco. Churches across the country hold Masses in his honor. Because the date is fixed rather than tied to a weekday, it can fall on any day of the week, so the break from work or school changes from year to year.
Why It Matters
Francis was born in Assisi around 1181 and gave up a wealthy merchant family's comforts for a life of poverty, simplicity, and care for the poor. He founded the Franciscan order and became known for his humility and his affection for creation. He died in 1226 and was canonized in 1228. In 1939 he was named a patron saint of Italy, together with Catherine of Siena, which tied his example of humility and peace to the country's national identity as well as to its Catholic faith.
Countries Celebrating
1 country
See what else is celebrated today around the world.
Discover other holidays and observances happening right now.