April 21 is celebrated on Rome Christmas. The city in fact celebrates its foundation, dated second the legend April 21, 753 BC The historian Tito Livio took this date as a reference in his work "Ab urbe seasoned”Which means 'since the city was founded'. April 21 was the result of some calculations in the astrological computations of Lucio Taruzio Firmano, a physicist and mathematician of the first century BC. Also in "Historiae romanae ad M. Vinicium libri duo" by Marco Velleio Patercolo we read that "Roma it was founded on 21 April on the Palatine Hill in the year of the sixth Olympiad ”. The celebrations were called "Parilia" and corresponded to a pastoral feast then subsequently the emperor Claudius chose the name "Birth of Rome". The date was recognized nationwide only in 1870 following the breach of Porta Pia.
The celebrations at the Altare della Patria and at the Ara Coeli Basilica
Also this year, therefore, Rome is preparing to celebrate its Christmas. Unfortunately, due to the health emergency, the scheduled events and appointments will be streaming and will last until May XNUMXst. The Christmas of Rome will begin with the traditional deposition of the mayor's laurel wreath Virginia Raggi at the Altare della Patria in Piazza Venezia. Then there will be the celebration of the Holy Mass by Cardinal Angelo De Donatis at the Ara Coeli Basilica. On the same occasion, Virginia Raggi will present the commemorative Medal of the 2774th Birth of Rome made by the Polygraphic Institute and State Mint, the winner of the Cultori Award of Rome and the winner of the Certamen Capitolinum Award and the delivery of the first copy of the 2021 edition of the Strenna of the Romanists.
For the Christmas of Rome the facade of Senatorial Palace in Piazza del Campidoglio will be the backdrop for projected images inspired by the various eras of the city's history. There will be space for works of art, artistic and monumental photos. The Fontana Acqua Paola in Piazza Trilussa and the Fontanone del Gianicolo will be illuminated by plays of light, accompanied by music and a story. The Bulgari palace in Piazza Augusto Imperatore will also light up in the dark.
All streaming events of museums and Superintendence
Many initiatives also by museums, Superintendence and historical groups of the city. On the Facebook page of the Ara Pacis Museum, videos on the nose and the monument were published, while one was also organized virtual guided tour of the Aurelian Walls. The Capitoline Superintendence has instead organized one reading marathon dedicated to Gioacchino Belli with the participation of experts, actors and citizens who will read one or more sonnets.
From 17 pm the Gruppo Storico Romano on the social channel of the Group will propose the representation of the traditional 'Ignition of the sacred fire', with costumes, weapons, rites and celebrations reproduced with care and respect for historical sources, thanks to a protocol between the Roman Historical Group and the Department of Historical, Philosophical-Social Sciences, Cultural Heritage and Territory of the University of Studies of Rome Tor Vergata. On April 22, two scientific conferences will be published on the web channels of the Capitoline Superintendence on “Mausoleum of Augustus found. Excavations and restorations 2007 - 2020 ".
At 20 pm on operaroma.tv, the official YouTube channel of the Teatro dell'Opera, maestro Michele Mariotti faces for the first time Luisa Miller by Verdi, an opera of great musical and theatrical charm. On the social channels of the Teatro di Roma space at 'Where is the center of Rome?' The places of the city told by teenagers, curated by Roberto Gandini and Gianluca Rame and subsequently to 'The Rome of errors and the Rome of signs', with Graziano Graziani.
