Feast of Maria SS. delle Grazie

A festival that is the heart of the Bellona community

Every year, between late June and early July, the town of Bellona, in the province of Caserta, gathers for the Feast of Maria SS. delle Grazie. It is the town's most cherished celebration, an event that blends religious devotion with popular festivities and is deeply rooted in the rural traditions of inland Campania. The focal point of the celebrations is the small chapel known as "la Santella", located at the southern entrance of the town: a place of worship that, before 1964, was flanked by an ancient Augustinian convent with a church dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Four days between faith and tradition

The festivities take place over four days, from June 29th to July 2nd. The religious program marks each day with the Holy Rosary and evening holy masses, while the morning of the opening day begins with several masses at the parish church. The most solemn moment is the procession of the Madonna delle Grazie, which winds through the town streets accompanied by the faithful and marching bands.

The blessing of agricultural machinery and grain threshing

One of the most distinctive elements of the Bellona festival is the blessing of agricultural machinery in front of the chapel. The ritual is accompanied by the evocative vintage grain threshing, managed by local threshing groups: a living re-enactment of the ancient bond between the community and farm work, bringing the gestures, machines, and memories of rural civilization back to the square.

The greasy pole and festivities in the square

Alongside the sacred rites, the festival offers the most joyful and popular side of tradition. On the evening of July 1st, the characteristic "greasy pole" competition takes place, where participants attempt to climb a greased pole to reach the prizes at the top, to the cheers of the crowd. The evenings come alive with marching bands, majorettes, shows, and concerts held in the town's spaces, while stalls and stands accompany visitors throughout the duration of the festivities.

The grand finale with fireworks

The festival culminates on the evening of July 2nd: after the musical show and the traditional lottery drawing, the sky over Bellona lights up with grand fireworks, cheered by the entire community. It is the moment that closes the four days of celebrations and hands the festival over to the following year.

A heritage to be experienced

The Feast of Maria SS. delle Grazie is not just a religious anniversary: it is an identity heritage that tells the story of Bellona, its history, and its territory. For those visiting the province of Caserta during this period, it represents an authentic opportunity to immerse themselves in the traditions of Campania, amidst spirituality, rural memory, and popular warmth.