Bella Ciao

An Italian protest folk song with a rich history rooted in the struggles of labor and resistance against oppression, particularly fascism, with its earliest known form theorized to have originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries among the mondine (female rice paddy workers in Italy's Po Valley). These women toiled in grueling conditions, often with their bare feet in water for long hours and low pay, and the original lyrics expressed their harsh realities, lamenting the difficult work, insects, and demanding bosses, serving as a protest against their exploitative working conditions that sometimes led to rebellious movements and riots. The song later gained new life and meaning during World War II when it was adopted by the Italian Resistance as an anti-Nazi and anti-fascist anthem, with Italian partisans fighting against Nazi German occupation and collaborationist fascist forces singing "Bella Ciao" as a rallying cry for liberation, though some historians suggest the "partisan" version may have become widespread only after the war. The lyrics were adapted to reflect the fight for freedom, speaking of a partisan leaving their loved one to join the struggle and the desire to be buried on the mountain as a symbol of dying for liberty. Since the post-war era, "Bella Ciao" has transcended its Italian origins to become a worldwide hymn of resistance against Nazism, fascism, injustice, and oppression, adopted by various protest movements globally including anti-fascist movements, environmental activists, and those protesting against authoritarian regimes, with renewed popularity in recent years partly due to its feature in the Spanish television series Money Heist.