Grandparents' Day

A civil observance that becomes a local celebration in Forano

Grandparents' Day is celebrated throughout Italy on October 2nd, the day the Catholic calendar honors the Guardian Angels—a fitting connection that inspired the legislation (Law 159 of July 31, 2005) establishing this as a national civil holiday dedicated to the role of grandparents in families and society. In Forano, a small town in the Bassa Sabina area of the Rieti province, in Lazio, this date is more than just a calendar entry: the Municipality has officially included it among its recurring events, alongside historic town traditions like the Feast of Saint Sebastian (the patron saint), the Pasta Festival, and the August celebrations.

The spirit of the day

In a village of just a few thousand inhabitants, Grandparents' Day takes on a special meaning. The Sabina region is a land of internal migration and extended families, where for generations grandparents have been the backbone of domestic life: caring for grandchildren, passing down the local dialect and proverbs, sharing knowledge of olive and vine cultivation cycles, and keeping the memory of festivals and processions alive. Dedicating a day to them is, in very practical terms, a way to recognize the quiet caregiving that holds the community together.

How it is celebrated

The October 2nd initiatives in Forano traditionally revolve around three pillars:

• Schools — the local comprehensive school and kindergarten involve children in workshops, songs, drawings, and small performances offered to the grandparents invited into the classrooms;
• Associations and the Senior Center — convivial gatherings, afternoon snacks, traditional games, and opportunities for intergenerational connection;
• The Municipality — which sponsors and coordinates the day, including an official greeting from the local administration.

The symbolic flower of the occasion is the forget-me-not, adopted nationwide to evoke memory and the emotional bond between grandparents and grandchildren.

Forano, a village to discover

Visitors arriving in Forano for the day will find a town overlooking the Tiber Valley, halfway between Rome and Rieti, featuring a compact historic center, scenic views of the Sabina countryside, and the nearby hamlet of Gavignano. Sabina PDO extra virgin olive oil, homemade pasta, and simple traditional peasant desserts are perfect accompaniments to the festivities: it is not uncommon for the day to conclude around a table, which in Sabina remains the most natural place for generations to meet.

Good to know

Grandparents' Day is not a food festival or a ticketed event; it is a civil observance with free participation. The program is defined year by year by schools, associations, and the Municipal Administration, and is announced in the days leading up to the event through the official channels of the Municipality of Forano. Those wishing to participate should check the Events and Manifestations section of the municipal website at the end of September.