Italian American Heritage Month

Italian American Heritage Month is celebrated in October to recognize the contributions and achievements of Italian immigrants and their descendants living in the United States, and reflect on their histories, traditions and culture. More than five million Italians immigrated to the United States between 1820 and 2000, and there currently are over 26 million Americans of Italian descent residing in the United States. Since 1989, Italian American Heritage month is recognized by proclamation each year by the Governor, President and Congress.

The city of Springfield raises an Italian American flag each October in honor of Italian American Heritage Month. You can watch a recording of this year’s Springfield Italian American Flag Raising, captured by WWLP on October 3.