Last 26 and 27 October, the traditional ‘Festa del Lavoro – Festa dell’Uomo’ (Labour Day – Man’s Day) was held in Vigevano (Pavia), now in its 44th edition and under the patronage of the Municipality of Vigevano and the Province of Pavia, with the contribution of Assocalzaturifici, Assomac and Riva del Garda. The festival, which rewards loyalty to work, began on the evening of Saturday 26 October at the Cagnoni Theatre in Vigevano with a speech by Cardinal Arrigo Miglio and the official handover of the baton to the new president of the Santi Crispino and Crispiniano Consortium, Italo Milan. Music and the unmistakable voice of Fausto Leali provided the setting for the presentation of the Consortium’s ‘white mantles’.

This year, the prestigious award for Loyalty to Work was presented to 27 entrepreneurs, employees and special prizes. Among the entrepreneurs were: Cami Guido (Industrie Chimiche Forestali), Camerlengo Cinzia (Camerlengo), Carbonell Agullo Jaime (Wonders), Cesetti Riccardo (Fiorangelo), Del Gatto Simone (Caf), Esquitino Madrid Enrique (Illice), Fenni Valentino (Meline/Dada), Fidanza Anna (Condor Trade), Galli Andrea (Brunate), Gelo Andrea, Migliorati Franco (Fly Flot), Paganini Silvia (Tacchificio Villa Cortese), Tannoia Toni (Global Fashion). Employees and Special Awards: Baini Manuela (PePè), Bricolo Caterina (ExpoRivaSchuh), Canella Davide (Ormac), Cipriani Cecilia (Assocalzaturifici), Esposito Rita (PePè), Galli Gianni (Brunate), Monterubbianesi Roberta (Assocalzaturifici), Antonini Andrea, Pegoraro Massimo (Avantium), Portalupi Mariella (Caimar), Santini Franco (Calzaturificio F. lli Soldini), Spaggiari Giovanni (Mauri Moda), Urga Domenico (Ormac), Ying Zhang (ExpoRivaSchuh).

The Festival then continued on Sunday 27 October in the square of the church of Gesù Divin Lavoratore di Vigevano with the ‘Procession’ with the relics of the Patron Saints and the participation of the prize-winners and participants of the Palio of the Contrada dei Santi Crispino e Crispiniano.

Then, after the mass, the investiture took place with the handing over of the mantles, followed by the procession from the churchyard of Vigevano Cathedral to the Castle for the traditional social lunch. The conclusion of this much-loved and cherished celebration was on the following Monday, at the church of Gesù Divin Lavoratore, with the celebration of a suffrage mass for workers and deceased members.