Bonfire of the Giöbia of Gorla Maggiore

The Giöbia, a ritual that banishes winter

The Bonfire of the Giöbia (or Gioeubia) is one of the most deeply rooted traditions of the Olona Valley, in the Varese area. Every year, on the last Thursday of January, a large straw effigy representing the cold, difficulties, and negativity of the past year is burned: with fire, winter and bad luck are symbolically driven away, awaiting the arrival of spring. It is a propitiatory and collective ritual, experienced with great participation by the towns in the valley.

The bonfire in Piazza Martiri

In Gorla Maggiore, in the province of Varese, the Giöbia is celebrated in Piazza Martiri, the heart of the town. The evening culminates with the lighting of the large bonfire, the most anticipated and evocative moment of the festival, accompanied by the local musical band which adds its soundtrack to the ritual. The entire community, young and old, gathers around the fire.

The flavors of tradition

The festival is also a gastronomic occasion: the stall opens in the early evening and offers typical Lombard winter dishes, from polenta and bruscitt to polenta with cheese, to Nutella crêpes, accompanied by mulled wine, hot tea, and hot chocolate. It's the perfect way to warm up and experience the magic of the bonfire on the coldest night of the year.

A shared tradition in the Olona Valley

The Giöbia of Gorla Maggiore is part of a network of celebrations that, during the same period, light bonfires in many municipalities in the Olona Valley. It is an intangible heritage that links past and present, and which in Gorla Maggiore continues to attract the community around the fire every year, amidst tradition, conviviality, and good food.