Feast in Honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot (Lampa 'e Sant'Antuono)

The Lampa 'e Sant'Antuono, the fire that warms the winter of Capodrise

In the heart of winter, on January 17th, the town of Capodrise, in the province of Caserta, renews one of its most cherished traditions: the Feast in Honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, known to all by its local dialect name, Lampa 'e Sant'Antuono. It is a festival of blessed fire, an ancient rite that marks the day of the patron saint of animals and the hearth throughout Campania, and which here is deeply intertwined with the history of this small Caserta community.

An ancient chapel at the heart of devotion

The focal point of the celebration is the Chapel of Saint Anthony the Abbot, one of the most precious buildings in Capodrise. Featuring late-Gothic architecture with a vaulted ceiling and small splayed windows, the chapel houses a cycle of frescoes dating from the 14th to the early 16th century, including depictions of the Madonna and Child, Saint Anthony the Abbot, and a famous Saint George Slaying the Dragon of exquisite 15th-century Neapolitan craftsmanship. Linked to the De Filippo family as early as the 1400s and becoming a public oratory in 1955, the chapel opens its doors especially on this day, when it returns to being the spiritual center of the town.

Faith, animals, and community

The festival is organized by the S. Andrea Apostolo - Immacolata Concezione Parish together with the APS Pro Loco Capodrise, who curate a program each year that blends religious observance with popular tradition. It begins with the recitation of the rosary and Holy Mass, followed by a procession that winds through the town center to the square named after the saint. Here, the great lampa (bonfire) is lit, the symbolic heart of the devotion to Anthony the Abbot, around which the community gathers for the blessing of the animals.

Around the fire

Once the fire is lit, the evening continues in a festive atmosphere: the flames illuminate the square while folk music and culinary surprises are offered to the participants. It is the moment when the liturgical dimension gives way to conviviality, with families and visitors gathering around the warmth of the lampa on one of the most characteristic nights of the Campanian winter.

A tradition to experience

The Lampa 'e Sant'Antuono is a free-entry event, deeply rooted in the identity of Capodrise and the broader heritage of the Saint Anthony fires that, across the Caserta area and Campania, mark every January with bonfires, blessings, and songs. Those looking to discover an authentic fragment of popular culture will find devotion, history, and community united around a single flame at this festival.