Feast of the Holy Thorn

A relic since 1495

In San Giovanni Bianco, in the Brembana Valley (province of Bergamo), a rare and revered relic has been kept since 1495: a thorn from Christ's Crown. The Feast of the Holy Thorn revolves around it, an event of faith and tradition held on Passion Sunday, fifteen days before Easter. It is one of the oldest and most characteristic religious festivals in the Brembana area.

Novena, processions, and devotion

The festival is preceded by a preparatory novena. The heart of the celebrations takes place over the weekend: on Saturday, a historical procession with flag-wavers starts from San Rocco and leads to the opening of the tabernacle housing the Thorn, with the exhibition of the relic. Sunday features the solemn vespers and the pontifical procession, presided over by the bishop, culminating in the rite of the relic's return. A rich and evocative liturgy that draws thousands of faithful and visitors.

Bonfires, lights, and fireworks

Alongside its religious dimension, the Holy Thorn has a popular and spectacular side. The eve of the festival is lit by characteristic bonfires, while the celebration is punctuated by fireworks that color the valley sky. Throughout the event, the village comes alive with a funfair and stalls: about thirty attractions in Piazza Alpini and the weekend markets provide a joyful backdrop to the rites.

The tenth anniversary of the blooming

The 2026 festival holds special significance: it marks the tenth anniversary of the 'blooming' of the Holy Thorn, the miraculous sprout that appeared on the thorn in 2016, which greatly amplified devotion. Special celebrations are planned for this occasion, with the presence of the Bishop of Bergamo. The Feast of the Holy Thorn thus confirms its role as a symbolic event for San Giovanni Bianco and the entire Brembana Valley, where faith, history, and community intertwine uniquely.