On July 25, 1943, the day of the no-confidence vote and arrest of Mussolini, in the illusion of the end of the war and a tragic two decades, celebrations took place throughout Italy. In Campegine, a small village in the Emilia region, the Cervi family celebrated in their own way, bringing 380 kilograms of pasta to the square in milk cans, offering it to all the inhabitants of the town. Rigorously in white: it was macaroni dressed with butter and cheese, even more a “party dish” during that time of deprivation.
The family of the seven Cervi brothers (Gelindo, Antenore, Aldo, Ferdinando, Agostino, Ovidio, and Ettore) were explicitly antifascist, Catholic, and democratic. After the celebration, they entered a period of struggle in the Resistance, a few months before being captured, tortured, and then executed.
Over the decades, the tradition of distributing pasta in memory of the Cervi brothers has been kept alive: the historic Antifascist Pasta event at Casa Cervi, which takes place every year at the Alcide Cervi Institute in Gattatico, has been joined by the “Network of Antifascist Pastas” with hundreds of initiatives throughout Italy and even abroad.
The antifascist pasta in Val di Fiemme is promoted by ANPI Trentino and Villa Flora, with the participation of the Emergency Fiemme and Fassa Group and CGIL-SPI of Trentino.
The program for the day includes, starting at 12:00 p.m., pasta + watermelon for the cost of €10 (a good part will be donated to Emergency), while the bar will remain open throughout the event; an intervention by the historian Giacomo Panozzo will provide a historical overview of the commemoration; followed by live music with singer-songwriter Luciano Forlese. The exhibition “Free and Sovereign: the 21 Women Who Made the Constitution” will also be on display.
Participating in the Pasta event is also an opportunity to offer solidarity to the Palestinian people: after deducting expenses, the proceeds will be donated to Emergency for projects in Gaza.
Residents and guests are welcome.
