It’s Thanksgiving week in the U.S., a holiday where food is of central importance. And for the first time ever, I was made aware of a similar tradition all the way over in Italy, although the focus is more on those who grow and produce the food — farmers.
When my daughter sent photos of tractors and people holding signs in the small town of Piacenza this past weekend, I thought for sure it was another farmer protest. Turns out, it was a day of Thanksgiving, held by the agricultural/farmers association Coldiretti, which represents over 70,000 farm workers across Italy.
Farmers, their families, and local communities celebrate mass, giving thanks for the fruits and foods harvested during the year. There is even a blessing of the tractors. For Italy, the blessings are welcome, especially since this past year was a particularly difficult one in farming, with huge losses from bad weather and livestock disease, writes the Liberta news portal.
“The blessing of agricultural vehicles represents the invocation to God to continue to protect us, but also an incentive for farmers, whom we thank for their industriousness, to be faithful to the Lord’s plan, a plan that corresponds to the deep desire of the human heart,” said Bishop Emeritus Monsignor Gianni Ambrosio.
“Coldiretti,” he added, “has in its roots a deep faith that is strengthened in difficult times.”
“Thanksgiving Day,” explains the director of Coldiretti Piacenza Roberto Gallizioli, “represents one of the most important moments in the life of the Italian countryside. It was established in 1951 to thank God for the harvest in the fields and ask for blessings on new work. This anniversary is celebrated by the Coldiretti sections, present in every corner of Italy, and has become a true ‘agricultural celebration,’ animated by the Catholic faith.”
Local authorities, members of the provincial council, and even the regional deputy director of Crédit Agricole were present to thank the farmers for their hard work in providing food for the people.
“The land is our first resource and agricultural work is the founding pillar of society,” said Coldiretti delegate Marco Allaria Olivieri, thanking all those present for their dedication to Coldiretti.
Aside from a colorful market in the Piazza Duomo full of local goods and treats on hand to taste, there is typically art on exhibit and some campaigns to raise awareness for various causes. This year, in Piacenza, they also sought to voice concerns over fake “Made in Italy” product labeling in the EU.
Notably, some enclosures had just silhouettes of animals due to extra precautions taken given the outbreaks of African swine fever and bluetongue. One report in October stated that Italy has had to kill almost 120,000 pigs since swine fever appeared in 2022, while Reuters reported this month that 40,000 sheep and lambs have died in Sardinia (home to 40% of Italy’s sheep) from bluetongue.
The video message from Coldiretti on display stated: “Italian livestock farming is at risk of disappearing, let’s save our stables, which are fundamental for our economy, our food sovereignty, but also for the territory that they enhance with their presence, protecting it in harmony with the environment.”
It is interesting that aside from the normal prayer many American families will say giving thanks for their bountiful Thanksgiving table this Thursday, and maybe the tradition of everyone saying something they are thankful for, I have never heard of thanks being given to our farmers and the work they do to bring us our annual feast.
The world seems ready for a reset on many fronts. Food, more specifically, our food systems, which have been taken for granted for so long, seem a good place to start.
The day ended in Piacenza by ushering in the Christmas season, with a tree lighting in a nearby piazza. Perhaps in the process of reminding ourselves how important farmers are to society, some traditional faith can be restored as well.
