If Brazil celebrates in 2024 the 150 years of Italian immigration, in 2025 it will be Rio Grande do Sul's turn to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first immigrants from the “Belpaese”, who left deep marks on the culture, economy and society of the state, especially in Serra Gaucha, which prepares a rich calendar of events to mark the occasion.
The program will open on December 5th, in Caxias do Sul, with the “Christmas Cantata”, a show that mixes singing with theater and will reinterpret the Christmas celebrations of Italian immigrants, encompassing everything from their time in their homeland to their experiences in Serra Gaúcha, but without ignoring the other peoples who also helped shape the region.
The event will be held in the external area of the Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Services of Caxias do Sul (CIC Caxias), a member of the executive committee responsible for the 150th anniversary calendar.
The committee is chaired by the University of Caxias do Sul (UCS) and also includes representatives from the City Hall, the Rio Grande do Sul State Department of Culture, and the Italian Consulate General in Porto Alegre.
The “Christmas Cantata” is being prepared by the culture and tourism departments of CIC Caxias, in partnership with the Ítalo Victor Bersani Institute and the Quiquiprocó theater group, but it will be just the beginning of a program that will also seek to boost tourism in a region severely affected by the climate tragedy of the first half of the year.
“It is a unique opportunity that we want to make the most of with actions, itineraries, and book launches. Tourism and culture will be very united in 2025 to value and honor the past of Italian immigration,” said Luciane Perez, coordinator of the tourism business department at CIC Caxias.
The reopening of Salgado Filho Airport in Porto Alegre, after being closed for more than five months due to flooding, should also represent a new stimulus for tourism in Rio Grande do Sul. “It is a great opportunity to use these gateways to further promote our culture,” Perez emphasized.
The 150th anniversary calendar also includes a luncheon meeting at the CIC Caxias headquarters with a guest to be announced, exhibitions by artists of Italian descent, and a "filó," that is, "a large Italian gathering where typical gastronomy meets music" to recreate the family gatherings of early immigrants.
“Everyone would gather at a church or someone’s house, and each person would bring a food item to celebrate the harvest, a wedding or some achievement. This is still being defined, but it will be in a really cool and different place. The idea is that the filó will be one of the milestones of the 150 years,” said the coordinator.HANDLE)
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