From All Saints’ Day to La Festa della Befana, experience five of the most significant religious festivals in Italy and discover why they remain an integral part of Italian identity…
Italy is steeped in history and tradition, and its religious festivals reflect this rich cultural tapestry. Religious festivals in Italy are celebrated with reverence, pageantry, and a community spirit that captivates visitors and locals alike.
From ancient customs to modern-day traditions, these events bring people together to honour religious beliefs and cherished heritage.
Whether you’re visiting during Christmas preparations in Umbria, marvelling at Venice’s Ascension Day boat parade, or joining Easter celebrations in Rome, each of these festivals offers a unique insight into Italian faith and culture.
1. La Festa di Ognissanti – All Saints’ Day, 1st November
The three days from 31st October to 2nd November hold special significance around world as a time to remember and revere those we have loved and lost.
Although the American influence is beginning to take hold, Halloween, on 31st October, is not celebrated in quite the same way in Italy, while the two days that follow honour the departed with nationwide acts of remembrance in different regions. These are rooted in tradition – secular and religious – of centuries gone by.
All Saints’ Day on 1st November is a public holiday, and many unusual regional traditions take place on this day and on the 2nd, All Souls’ Day. For example, cakes known as stinchetti dei morti (shins of the dead) are served in Umbria, while in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, lighted lamps, water and bread are left out to guide the dead back home and, once they are there, to eat and drink.
2. Festa dell’Immacolata Concezione – Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 8th December
Not to be confused with the ‘virgin birth,’ this celebrates Mary as someone herself conceived in a state of grace and thus fit to be the mother of God.
Above Gubbio in Umbria, a huge Christmas tree, up to 800 metres high, is lit up on the eve of the feast day.
This public holiday marks the moment when everyone’s preparations for Christmas really get underway, with gift buying and decorating the Christmas tree at home.
3. La Festa della Befana – Epiphany, 5th January
Epiphany is on 6th January, when the Three Wise Men brought gifts for Jesus.
La Befana (the witch) comes on the 5th with gifts for good children – and coal for bad ones.
Celebrate at festivals throughout Italy, including Urbania (Le Marche).
4. La Pasqua – Easter, the 1st Sunday after the Paschal full moon
You can visit Florence at Easter to see a spectacular firework display with the Scoppio del Carro, ‘Explosion of the Cart,’ but to really immerse yourself in the Easter festivities, Rome is the place to be.
The Pope is at the heart of it, finishing with Mass in St Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday.
5. Giorno dell’Ascensione – Ascension Day, the 40th day after Easter
In Venice, this is known as the Festa della Sensa. It is a feast to celebrate the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven.
This is one of the big feasts of the Christian calendar and an important day in the Catholic year.
Learn about the foodie traditions behind la Festa della Donna
First appeared in Italia! #206 (Dec/Jan 2024)