Epiphany Festival of Predappio

The Epiphany that Closes Predappio's Christmas

The Epiphany Festival of Predappio is the event that concludes the Christmas program of the Municipality of Predappio, in the province of Forlì-Cesena, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. For two days, between January 5th and 6th, the town and its hamlets come alive with the songs, sweets, and ancient traditions linked to the Epiphany celebration. Now in its 42nd edition, the festival is an eagerly awaited event that brings the Predappio community together in a climate of popular celebration and strong local identity.

The Befanotti and the Pasquella

The heart of the event are the Befanotti, the groups who, according to tradition, go from house to house singing the Pasquella. This is a rite of oral peasant tradition still alive in many forms in Romagna, Marche, and some areas of Umbria and Lazio. The Befanotti represent the ancestors, and their presence recalls the most ancient meaning of Epiphany, in which the figure of Befana bringing gifts through chimneys was linked to the memory of the deceased.

The Festival Program

The first day, January 5th, is dedicated to itinerant singing: the Befanotti groups reach communities, nursing homes, and hamlets in the area to bring the Pasquella to the people. Stops include places like the Comunità Opera San Camillo, the "Opera Pia Piccinini" Elderly Residence, the "I Girasoli" residence, Sant'Antonio, San Cassiano, and other locations in the Municipality.

On January 6th, Epiphany Day, the festival moves to the center of Predappio. Piazza Garibaldi becomes the heart of the event thanks to the Befanotti carousel: from the afternoon, groups from San Martino in Strada, Castrocaro, Predappio, Premilcuore, and the "Befana del Rabbi" group perform. Local associations offer sweets and mulled wine.

Flavors and Atmosphere

• Mulled wine and typical Epiphany sweets offered by local associations
• Carousel and singing of the Befanotti in Piazza Garibaldi
• Itinerant Pasquella singing in hamlets and communities
• Popular festival atmosphere suitable for families and children

A Romagna Tradition

The Epiphany Festival is organized by the Municipal Administration of Predappio in collaboration with local associations. More than just an event, it represents a moment of cohesion for the community of Predappio and a precious piece of Emilia-Romagna's intangible cultural heritage, keeping alive the memory of peasant rites rooted in a distant past.