Bonfire of Saint Anastasius

The Fire Ritual

The Bonfire of Saint Anastasius is one of the most evocative winter fire rituals in Alto Molise. In Acquaviva d'Isernia, a municipality in the province of Isernia, the village youth collect large quantities of juniper branches from the surrounding countryside, in a festive atmosphere also made up of small strength contests in uprooting the branches. The juniper is then piled at the foot of the church steps, around an iron cross.

The Night of the Bonfire

On the evening of January 21st, the large bonfire is lit: the young people demonstrate their strength and skill in controlling the fire, while the statue of the saint is placed on the church threshold, facing the flames. The fire burns all night, and in the morning only ashes remain. The following day, January 22nd – the day of the saint's liturgical feast – the wake-up call with the band, the collection, the solemn Holy Mass, and the procession with the statue of Saint Anastasius take place.

Saint Anastasius the Martyr

Saint Anastasius, originally named Magundat, was a Persian soldier who converted to Christianity and was martyred in the 7th century. His cult spread in Italy during the Lombard era. In Acquaviva d'Isernia, devotion to the patron saint has been linked to this fire ritual for centuries, which is now recognized as a component of intangible cultural heritage and is part of the circuits of Molise fire rituals, among which the famous 'Ndocciata of Agnone stands out.