Longano

Bonfire:

A few days before New Year's Eve, a group of men from the town go to the mountains to chop and collect wood for the big bonfire that takes place in the town center every New Year’s Eve. It is called the “fuoco di San Silvestre”. This bonfire is mounted until it reaches about 20 feet high. When the sun sets, the tradition is that the oldest person in the town lights the fire. The fire stays lit throughout the night until the next morning and after families are done their dinner, some go out to stand around the fire with friends and family and enjoy the warmth on what is always a cold night. Around 11:30 pm everyone gathers in the piazza around the fire and wait for the bells to ring at 12 o’clock and ring in the new year with champagne for everyone. After the celebration, everyone goes back to their respective houses to eat “lenticchie and zampone”, a New Year’s tradition throughout Italy.

Live Nativity Scene:

In the year 2011, Father Roberto, the pastor of Longano, along with his monks, decided to do something new for Longano; a live nativity scene. This nativity scene normally takes place around or on the 27th or 28th of December. It brings people through all of the little streets and gives them a chance to see abandoned houses being used again to display what it once looked like. Residents of the town take part in this occasion and dress up with the old apparel worn in the 1930s. Some women wear the traditional wedding dress that was used during 1940s-1960s. Real animals are on display for people to see, chestnuts are roasting on the fire, and pastries and hot plates are made for the visitors with a small donation. This idea really took off and was received well by everyone that they have continued with it until today even though Father Roberto is no longer the pastor. The residents want to keep the tradition ongoing because after all, that is what Longano is known for.

St. Anthony- This feast day of Longano’s patron saint is celebrated on June 13th and on that day, there are big cannon shots sometimes fired in the early morning and these indicate that it is a day to celebrate. Around 10:30 am the mass begins at the Parish of Saint Bartholomew to celebrate Saint Anthony. After the mass there is a procession where people take turns carrying the statue. It proceeds up from the church, continues around the castle, and comes back down to the town center. At night the residents gather to celebrate with music and paninis provided by the town committee. There is a big stage in the center for the band to perform traditional music to the public. Food vendors are also lined up along the streets. Everyone enjoys the food and music on a nice summer night.

St. Donato- This is another feast day celebrated in honor of Saint Donato. It is celebrated on August 6, 7, and 8, with the real feast day on the 8th. The first day begins with a mass in the morning at the main church (Chiesa Madre). After the mass there is a procession which goes from the church to the castle and then back down to the center of the town for everyone to see the statue of the celebrated saint. At night, a local or regional band provide music and entertainment for the crowd.

St. Rocco- The festival takes takes place on three days: August 16, 17, and 18 with the actual feast day celebrated on August 16, . The mass in honor of the saint occurs on the 16th of August in the morning also at the main church (Chiesa Madre). The mass is then proceeded by a procession which goes from the church up to the castle and back down to the center of the town where the statue of Saint Rocco is brought into the chapel. There is music and entertainment provided at night by local or regional bands for everyone to enjoy accompanied by food from the town committee.