The Investiture of the New Captains Regent is a national holiday in San Marino that occurs on April 1 and October 1 every year. The two leaders of state of the Republic of San Marino are the captain’s regents. The legislative body of the country, the Grand and General Council, elects them every six months. Regents are selected from opposing political parties for a six-month term. On April 1 and October 1 of each year, the captain’s regents are invested. This practice dates back at least to 1243.
The background of Investiture Ceremony of the Captains Regent
The terms ‘investiture’ and’regent’ may elicit notions of nobility, particularly regarding European cultures and traditions. However, if you look past the terms, you will find that the Republic of San Marino holds a sacrosanct ceremony twice a year. Both on the first of their respective months, the first in April and the second in October.
Let’s travel through time. The Captain’s Regent, also known as ‘Capitani reggenti’ in Italian, refers to the two heads of state in San Marino and was instituted in the first half of the 13th century. The country’s legislative entity, the Grand and General Council, elects these officials every six months. Since their inception, they have been responsible for administering justice, analogous to magistrates. In December 1243, the Grand and General Council elected the first two ‘consuls,’ an ancient Roman term.
Many centuries later, women were eventually permitted to participate and compete for this prestigious award. In fact, as of April 2020, with the election of its 18th female Captain Regent, San Marino has the most female heads of state in the globe. Today, as an event firmly rooted in the culture and history of this country, the eligibility requirements are crystal obvious.
You must possess San Marino citizenship from birth, be at least 25 years old, be a member of the Grand and General Council, and not have served as Captain Regent within the past three years. San Marino has preserved a particularly unique commemoration in the form of an event that takes place in the streets of the Historical Center by virtue of its rich history and enduring customs.
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CEREMONY OF SELLING THE CAPTAINS REGENT ACTIVITIES
Participate in the investiture
If you have the means to travel to San Marino, the ideal way to celebrate the Investiture Ceremony of the Captain’s Regent would be to attend and watch the event unfold. You will be close to the action as it unfolds in the streets of their historic district, meet many residents, and be a part of history. Learn the local dialect and participate fully in the festivities.
San Marino should be on your priority list
If historical events are not your thing, why not check into San Marino’s other attractions? It is a unique republic that has much to offer ardent backpackers and those seeking to travel off the beaten path. If you are planning a trip to Italy or compiling a list of inexpensive places to visit, be sure to include San Marino; you won’t be disappointed by what this delightful place has to offer.
Organize your own parade.
The practice of celebrating something with a procession dates back centuries. It will continue to occur because it is the most tangible way to honor something, particularly during an official investiture ceremony. Think about some of your own cultural traditions and make a parade out of them; that way, you honor something meaningful to you. By holding a procession, you honor the San Marino investiture ceremony.
5 Interesting San Marino Facts
He was granted citizenship after he wrote a letter to the Captains Regent in 1861, praising San Marino and describing the state’s historical prestige.
The Republic’s first postage stamps were issued in 1877, while the paid postal service was established in 1607.
The constitution was composed of six volumes written in Latin in 1600 and known as “The Statutes of 1600.”
It was dubbed the “Least Visited Country in Europe” in 2017 after only 60,000 international tourists visited the country.
With a land area of only 23.6 square miles, it is the fifth-smallest country in the world, behind only the island nations of Tuvalu and Nauru and the city-states of Monaco and the Vatican.
INVESTITURE CEREMONY OF THE CAPTAINS REGENT DATES
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2023 | October 1 | Sunday |
2024 | October 1 | Tuesday |
2025 | October 1 | Wednesday |
2026 | October 1 | Thursday |
2027 | October 1 | Friday |