Feast of Saint George the Martyr and Procession (Lava Festival)

A festival that tells the story of the city's identity

In San Giorgio a Cremano, a town in the province of Naples overlooking the gulf and nestled between Portici, Ercolano, and the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, the patron saint's feast is more than just a religious observance: it is the moment when the city reconnects with its own history. Saint George the Martyr, who gives the town its name, is celebrated on April 23rd, a local public holiday when offices and schools remain closed. Alongside the liturgical celebration, on a nearby Sunday, the grand procession takes place, which the locals have always called the Lava Festival.

The origins: the vow of 1855

The tradition stems from a specific event. During the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 1855, as the lava front advanced toward the town, the parish priest and the citizens invoked Saint George and the Madonna of the Immaculate Conception together, promising that if the city were spared, they would carry both statues in a procession to the exact point where the lava stopped. The flow ceased, and on May 20th of that same year, the first procession departed from the parish of Santa Maria del Principio. The vow has been honored ever since.

Why it is called the Lava Festival

The popular name of the festival recalls that very pact between the community and its patron. The devotion has been renewed with every awakening of the volcano: local memory also links the saint to the eruptions of 1872 and, above all, 1944—the last eruption of Vesuvius, which marked its eightieth anniversary in 2024. The historical date of the Lava Festival is traditionally set for May 19th, but over the decades, the date of the city procession has shifted from year to year, between late April and the second half of May, according to the calendar established by the Municipality and the parishes.

The 'portancuolli' and the two statues

The heart of the day lies with the portancuolli, the bearers who carry the statues on their shoulders and consider themselves the guardians of the tradition. They parade together with the simulacrum of Saint George the Martyr, the knight saint depicted in the act of slaying the dragon, and that of the Madonna of the Immaculate Conception, invoked in 1855 alongside the patron. Behind them follow the city authorities and a crowd of faithful in a procession that can last the entire day.

The route and the ritual

The structure of the procession, consolidated over the years, begins with vespers in the church of Saint George the Martyr and the departure of the cortege from Santa Maria del Principio, in Piazza Carlo di Borbone. The route crosses the main arteries of the city (including Piazza Cautela, Via De Gasperi, Piazza Tanucci, Piazza Massimo Troisi, and Corso Roma) and, in longer editions, extends beyond the municipal borders toward Ercolano and San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, with stops at churches encountered along the way. The route was modified in 1990, when reaching the exact point where the lava stopped became too complex. Upon returning, the statues are placed back into the churches of Santa Maria del Principio and Saint George the Martyr.

The atmosphere in the city

During the days of the festival, the center is transformed: festoon lights are illuminated, decorations are set up along the procession route, and, according to an ancient custom revived in recent years, many families hang blankets and drapes from their balconies as the statues pass by. It is a popular festival, free and open to all, which brings together generations of locals in just a few hours.

When to go

Those who wish to experience the festival in its most complete form should aim for the Sunday of the procession, which is the highlight; on April 23rd, however, the city experiences the more intimate and liturgical dimension of the patronal feast. As this event occupies the main streets for a long time, it is advisable to reach the center on foot or by public transport.