National Day of the Italian Network of Popular Culture
The network is a reality.
The Italian Network of Popular Culture over the years has become an essential reference point for those wishing to deal with popular culture.
Such a recognition has arisen from the long and obstinate work that led to the development of culture areas, to the respect for the masters of popular knowledge, to the renewed interest of young people for tradition.
And more. A kind of work by which we can finally celebrate popular culture and dedicate to it a day deeply evocative: that December 13th, a day weakly sunny, but devoted to the Saint of the light, that become in the last four years the “National Day of the Italian Network of Popular Culture” and when we want to light up tradition and save it through its protection, by reinterpretation and innovation.
The tradition as a reflection of history is perpetuated and documented by art and culture.
So this day , with its full calendar of events aimed at the transmission system and reworking of Popular Culture, becomes an opportunity to affirm and bring out the cultures of the territories in their value of identity , while creating the conditions for being recognized as a historic heritage in our Country.
This is to protect what is special but at the same time to get out from isolation and build relationships that create a system. The commitment of the network will continue in this direction always acting in order to state a true globalization of cultural diversity.
Simultaneous events across Italy
On December 13th was proclaimed a day of celebration and festivities to remember and to enhance the role of traditions and knowledge that is often passed down orally from generation to generation.
Popular culture is an immaterial culture and in danger of losing , so it must be preserved
This initiative , that sees the Italian Network of Popular Culture as a leader, provides multiple events simultaneously across Italy as a demonstration of how popular culture is rooted in the territories with customs and traditions that vary from area to area but in a vitality, in a single set of popular knowledge
The day of celebration is held on December 13th because Saint Lucia has been elected protector of popular culture. This martyr who, following the tradition though no eye, has the gift of sight and is a light that illuminates our traditions
The flaming torches switched on in the past and even now in honor of Saint Lucia become the lights turned on the popular culture symbolically and simultaneously across Italy.
Associations, artists, schools, museums, local entities, libraries and individuals, all culture system that works not only virtually and which is also an economic engine of the local communities will be active on its territory. Each event will join the myriad of expressions, ideally organized and distributed over the entire Italian peninsula, to take place during the day of December 13th and will send a strong message for the protection and enhancement of a key component of our cultural heritage: popular culture, and intangible assets. Initiatives are already planned and many others are joining in those days. The network has requested the participation of all those who want to join with proposals to collect, promote and enter the portal. www.reteitalianaculturapopolare.org.
The network is now a reality in almost all Italian regions, which aims to create value and identify actions to convey the knowledge that is often transmitted only by word and that every day is in danger of disappearing forever.
All the actions that the Network promotes have the statutory purpose of facilitating the passage of the Witness, that is creating the conditions for new generations to enter the relationship with teachers and learnings of a culture that is often not considered by conventional circuits.
IN TURIN
In particular, we will meet in Turin and Piedmont all migrant communities with whom we have worked all these years, we all will be at 9.30 p.m. at the Museum of Natural Science, 36, G. Giolitti street, for the feast of December 13th : Christmas tales, poems, dances, music of migrant communities and the eco-museums in the piedmont region , accompanied by the spontaneous and popular orchestra, words and sounds from those who voluntarily chose to daily support popular culture, working with the Network.
2009’s edition, by numbers:
- 18 Regions
- 37 provinces
- 600 cities
- 200 events
- 250 associations/cultural entities involved
- 152 public libraries
- 88 museums with dedicated opening
- 900 involved operators
How to join the celebration of popular culture