But on Tuesday, Italians sang with a little more passion as the country celebrated its 159th “birthday”.
The Kingdom of Italy was officially founded on March 17, 1861, so the date is now known as Unification Day.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte marked this year’s Unification Day with an encouraging message for Italians who’ve been living under quarantine for a week now:
“The unification of Italy was proclaimed 159 years ago. Since then, our country has faced a thousand difficulties: world wars, the fascist regime. But the Italians, with pride and determination, have always been able to get up and start again. With their heads held high.”
Conte thanked Italians still working despite the coronavirus outbreak and hailed the nation’s response to the health emergency.
“Thanks to the doctors and nurses, civil protection volunteers, firefighters, men and women of the armed forces ... for the extraordinary efforts that they are putting forth,” he wrote on Facebook.
“Thanks to the pharmacists, those who continue to go to the factories and those working in the supermarkets.
“Thanks to the taxi drivers who ... are driving doctors to hospitals without charging them.”
Conte also called for people to remain united, courageous and responsible during this difficult time.
