"Widely labelled an anti-fascist anthem, "Bella Ciao" is sung annually on April 25 during Italy's Liberation Day to mark the end of Benito Mussolini's fascist dictatorship and the Nazi occupation in Italy. Its most widespread version tells the story of a partisan with unspecified political leanings, who dies for freedom, asking to be buried "under the shade of a beautiful flower." But the song's origins are anything but clear."
"Some historians have traced its melody (without lyrics) to a 1919 recording by Odesa-born klezmer accordionist, Mishka Ziganoff. Others point to a separate folk song sung by "mondine" female rice paddy weeders in Northern Italy protesting against harsh labor conditions. That version, also titled "Bella Ciao," shares little with the partisan anthem beyond its title. The partisan version known today was solidified in the early 1960s, notably through a rendition by Italian-born French actor Yves Montand."
Bella Ciao is a century-old Italian protest song symbolizing parting with oppression. The phrase was etched on an unspent bullet casing linked to the man accused of killing US activist Charlie Kirk. The song is sung on April 25, Italy's Liberation Day, to mark Italy's liberation from fascism and Nazi occupation. The common version tells of a partisan who dies for freedom and asks to be buried 'under the shade of a beautiful flower.' Historians trace its melody to a 1919 Odesa klezmer recording and to a separate 'mondine' rice-weeders' folk song; the partisan form coalesced in the early 1960s. Researchers stress its adaptability across movements and popular culture.
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