January in the Italian Almanac: stories, festivals and curiosities day by day

The days of January 0

Days with a story are highlighted; on the others you still find the towns celebrating and the village of the day.

🎉 Festivals in January

Patron saint festival In 67 days 📍 Cessaniti

Saint Basil the Great, patron of Cessaniti

📅 Every year, on 2 January

Cessaniti celebrates Saint Basil on 2 January, in the church dedicated to him.

Patron saint festival In 67 days 📍 Troina

Saint Sylvester, the monk of Troina celebrated with a river of laurel branches

📅 Every year, on 2 January; the first Saturday of June the procession of relics and the Cavalcade

Troina celebrates the monk Saint Sylvester on 2 January with the Festa dei Ramari, a parade carrying a river of laurel branches through the town's streets; in June the procession of relics precedes the Cavalcade, recalling Charles V's entry into the city.

Patron saint festival In 68 days 📍 Casalbuono

Feast of Saint Anterus

📅 Every year, on 3 January

On 3 January Casalbuono celebrates its patron Pope Saint Anterus; the town preserves the Palazzo Baronale and lies within the Cilento National Park.

Patron saint festival In 68 days 📍 Gignese

Feast of Saint Maurice

📅 Every year, on the first Sunday of January

Gignese celebrates its patron Saint Maurice on the first Sunday of January; the saint has been venerated in the town since 1665, when relics arrived from Rome.

Patron saint festival In 69 days 📍 Santa Croce sull'Arno

Blessed Christiana da Santa Croce, patron of the land of the amaretto

📅 Every year, on 4 January; between the first and second week of December the amaretto festival is held

Santa Croce sull'Arno celebrates Blessed Christiana da Santa Croce on 4 January, in the church dedicated to her. Between the first and second week of December, the Festa dell'amaretto santacrocese is held, celebrating the town's traditional sweet and involving all local bakers in a competition.

Patron saint festival In 71 days 📍 Santa Elisabetta

Saint Stephen, patron celebrated with the pastoral Epiphany of Nardu

📅 Every year, on 6 January

Santa Elisabetta celebrates Saint Stephen on 6 January, with the pastoral Epiphany of Nardu, a re-enactment of shepherd life accompanied by a ricotta cheese festival; nearby Monte Guastanella once held a Byzantine fortress.

Procession In 71 days 📍 Piana degli Albanesi

Theophany – Byzantine Epiphany (Ujët të pagëzuam)

📅 Every year on 6 January

On 6 January the eparch blesses the waters at the Tre Cannoli fountain, dipping a cross three times; a white dove descends from the church roof and blessed oranges go to the crowd.

Patron saint festival In 72 days 📍 San Cristoforo

Feast of Saint Christopher

📅 Every year, on 7 January

On 7 January San Cristoforo celebrates its patron Saint Christopher, whose name became part of the town's own name; the Castello di San Cristoforo stands here.

Patron saint festival In 72 days 📍 Gozzano

Saint Julian the Deacon, patron of the land of the Colle di Buccione

📅 Every year, on 7 January

Gozzano celebrates Saint Julian the Deacon on 7 January.

Patron saint festival In 73 days 📍 Comiziano

Feast of Saint Severinus

📅 Every year, on 8 January

On 8 January Comiziano celebrates its patron Saint Severinus, to whom the town's church is dedicated.

Patron saint festival In 73 days 📍 Vibonati

Saint Anthony the Abbot and the emigrants' return

📅 Every year, from 8 to 17 January, with the procession of the 18th-century wooden bust

Vibonati celebrates Saint Anthony the Abbot from 8 to 17 January, drawing hundreds of Vibonati emigrants and faithful from across the Gulf of Policastro.

Patron saint festival In 73 days 📍 Striano

Saint Severinus, patron of the Strianese Carnival

📅 Every year, on 8 January; the Strianese Carnival has paraded through a different spot since 1983

Striano celebrates Saint Severinus on 8 January, in the church dedicated to him. Since 1983, the allegorical floats of the Strianese Carnival have paraded each year through a different part of the town.

The full Italian year →

This month in Italy

Befana Regatta

On 6 January costumed "befane" row down the Grand Canal: Italy's most photographed Epiphany.

📍 Venezia →

Bonfires of Saint Anthony

Around 17 January, bonfires and animal blessings light up the villages of the South.

📍 Sud Italia

January in the almanac

Befana Regatta

Bonfires of Saint Anthony