My travel guides (Let's go! and Rough Guide) suggest that January 6 is the public holiday for many european countries including Italy. Everything will be closed. What's this public holiday about? Is it any religious festival or memorial day? Any special event will be held?

I will be in Florence on 6 January. A bit fear that all museums and shops are closed. Wonder what sort of special things I may see there.

Jan 6 is the Epiphany-- a Christian Holiday (considered to be the arrival day of the Three Kings of the Orient in Bethlehem and the end of the "twelve days of Christmas" between Christmas and January 6).

I used to be off school on that day (presents!!!), so I know for a fact that shops, banks, and such will be closed in Spain. Other countries in Europe have beautiful traditions as well, all family oriented, obviously.

according to
http://www.initaly.com/regions/holidays.htm

and other websites, Epiphany is a national holiday and most public places and shops will be closed.

It's also a holiday in Germany (Bavaria at least).

It's just like a Sunday - many tourist things will be open. I was in Rome on Jan 6 two years ago and the neat thing there was high masses in main churches - i heard two esctatic renditions of Silent Night in cavernous churches - an indelible highlight of my trip. Jan 6 of course being a Catholic high holiday.

Yes, it's Epiphany and shops, schools, etc. will be closed. It is treated almost as important as Christmas in Italy. Trains, however, were running.

Hmm...isn't Epiphany the day La Befana visits Italian children bringing gifts or coal? Definitely a holiday there, although some things may be open.

It's a holiday worldwide because it's my birthday.

Thanks you guys for the information!! Epiphany.. oops, I really got no idea about this in Asia. I have checked Uffizi website. So delighted to find out that only Jan 1, May 1, Dec 25, and every Monday are the closing days. I should still open on Jan 6 (hopefully). It will be good enough for me to survive Firenze on Jan 6 if Uffizi and a McDonald are opening on that day!

It's a holiday in Austria, Spain, Finland, Greece, Italy and Sweden

It is my son's birthday too!

It's also a holiday in Mexico. Kids receive gifts on this day instead of Xmas.

In Rome, the Vatican Museums will be closed but just about every other notable sight will be open.

It's also called Twelfth Night; in some regions gifts are opened then rather than at Christmas. In France Twelfth Night bring the Three Kings Cake.