How happy were Italians in 2013?
A study by the University of Milan, “Voices from the blogs,” has determined the happiness index of Italians by analyzing 41 million tweets over the course of 2013. Overall, the study found Italians were happier in 2013 than in 2012, despite the prolonged economic crisis, with the index up to 60% last year compared to 46% the previous year.
The saddest months were January and February when only 4 out of 10 Italians expressed feelings of happiness online. Winter blues? Perhaps! However, March was the happiest month, maybe the arrival of spring with better weather conditions brought a sense of renewal.
The happiest day was July 12, with 80% of positive tweets. That day, the study reported, there were several positive news: six children were cured of diseases thanks to a TV charity event called Telethon, the Government erased the differences between legitimate and illegitimate children, and on the international scene, 16-year-old Malala Yousafzai gave a speech to the United Nations to defend the right of girls to have an education.
Among the happiest days we find Christmas Day; March 13, the day of the election of Pope Francis; August 1, the day the Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Silvio Berlusconi in the Mediaset trial for tax fraud; July 22, when the Royal Baby was born in London; and September 17, when the Costa Concordia ship was raised upright.
The saddest day was the 11th of January. Bad weather, cold and fog over the country, as well as political chaos may be the cause for that, according to the study. Other sad days were registered when a storm named Cleopatra struck Sardinia and the Haiyan typhoon devastated the Philippines.
According to the study, Italians seem to be happier on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, while the gloomiest day of the week is Monday. But who is happy to go back to work after a free weekend in Italy?
