Feast of Saint Blaise, Patron Saint of Lanzara

A devotion spanning over seven centuries

In Lanzara, a populous village in the municipality of Castel San Giorgio, in the province of Salerno (Campania), February 3rd is no ordinary date. It is the day of Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr of Sebaste in Armenia, physician and protector of the throat, and patron saint of the community. The devotion dates back to 1309, when—according to tradition passed down through generations and recounted annually by local chronicles—cloth merchants transported the saint's relics from Maratea to Lanzara, where they have been kept in the parish church ever since. It represents over seven hundred years of continuity: few towns in the Irno Valley and the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese area can boast such a long and unbroken bond with their patron saint.

The blessing of the throat, the moment everyone awaits

The most iconic moment of the festival is the blessing of the faithful's throats, performed with two crossed candles during and after the Eucharistic celebrations. This ritual draws not only residents to Lanzara but also many people from neighboring towns: according to hagiographic tradition, Saint Blaise saved a child who was choking on a fish bone, and he has been invoked against throat ailments ever since. Alongside the candle blessing, the faithful receive an anointing with blessed oil, another simple and ancient gesture repeated year after year in the Church of Saint Blaise.

The program: from the path of preparation to the popular celebration

The festival is not limited to February 3rd. The spiritual journey begins in the preceding days with an extensive program of religious events organized by the Saint Blaise Bishop and Martyr Parish, led by Father Rocco Aliberti, in collaboration with the Festival Committee. In 2026, the calendar of celebrations opened on January 24th and culminated on February 3rd with the 11:00 AM solemn mass, broadcast live by the local station Lira TV to reach the elderly and the sick who cannot leave their homes.

At nightfall, devotion gives way to the civil celebration: at 8:00 PM, the «Vieni a suonare con noi» Città di Bracigliano brass band enlivens the square, and the day concludes with the traditional fireworks display, eagerly awaited by both young and old. In previous years, the solemn mass has often been presided over by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno, Monsignor Andrea Bellandi, testifying to the diocesan significance of this recurrence.

The San Biagio meatball and panelle: a feast to be savored

In Lanzara, the patronal feast has a distinct flavor that no one would dream of leaving off the table on February 3rd. Tradition dictates the consumption of:

• The San Biagio meatball, the signature dish of the day, prepared in every family according to their own secret recipe;
• Lasagne, served as the main course for special occasions;
• San Biagio panelle, a type of unleavened bread linked to the saint's cult, distributed and consumed as a sign of protection;
• Blessed oil, applied to the throat as a devotional gesture that accompanies the family meal.

It is simple, home-cooked food, without gourmet pretensions, but it tells the story of how deeply this festival has become part of the community's daily life better than any document could.

A community celebration, recognized by the institutions

The event is closely followed by the municipal administration of Castel San Giorgio: Mayor Paola Lanzara addresses the citizenry every year, emphasizing how the solemn commemoration of Saint Blaise awakens shared feelings and memories, representing a moment of great devotion and cohesion for the entire territory. February 3rd thus becomes a meeting point for emigrated Lanzara natives, families from the surrounding area, and devotees from the Agro region.

Why visit Lanzara on February 3rd

Those looking for authentic patronal festivals in the province of Salerno—those not adapted for tourism—will find a clear example here: a packed church, crossed candles, a brass band in the square, fireworks in the February chill, and the scent of meatballs wafting from the windows. Castel San Giorgio is easily reached from the A30 motorway exit and the local train station, making the festival accessible to those arriving from Salerno, Nocera Inferiore, or the Vesuvius area. A small but significant Campanian ritual that has never missed its appointment since 1309.