Divorce Italian Style

Italy is holding its first divorce fair, offering services such as life coaching and beauty advice to the growing number of separating couples in this Catholic country. More than 130,000 couples split or got divorced in Italy in 2007 and the number of marriages in Italy has nearly halved since 1972.

The organizers said the fair, which will be held in Milan on May 8-9, aims to help divorcing people start a new and happier life. The services include divorce planning, anti-stalking advice and "make over" tips. Visitors will also be able to subscribe to divorce gift lists at department stores in Milan.

I understand that they hold these events in the U.S. and in the U.K. last year there was an event called the Starting Over Show. According to the Telegraph the world's first divorce fair opened in Vienna, Austria, in October 2007, under the slogan New Beginning, which attracted about 500 people and 20 exhibitors including private detective firms and DNA laboratories offering paternity tests.

While legal advice was being offered at the UK event there were no exhibitors offering DNA paternity testing or private detective work. This seems a bit of a shame really and I wonder exactly what the point of the event was. Legal and financial services are offered on every high street as are salons offering beauty treatments. Indeed you hardly need to be in the throes of divorce to consider changing your look and a free makeover is a gift offered by most department store make-up consultants. Perhaps a divorce fair offers those who are recently divorced or in the process, a place to meet others in the same boat but even this seems an unlikely reason to attend. Divorce is so common these days there can hardly be one amongst us who does not have a friend or family member who has not experience it and who we can turn to for comfort and advice. If the organisers of this event are to make it a success they need to offer their customers a range of services that are not readily available on the high street.