Festa del Pasqué

The Festa del Pasqué

In the municipality of Cesano Maderno (Province of Monza and Brianza, Lombardy), the Festa del Pasqué is the celebration that accompanies the city's Ferragosto. The name derives from the Cappella del Pasqué, the church of the Blessed Virgin of the Transit located in Piazza Arese, a place of popular devotion deeply rooted in the history of Cesano Maderno. The festival is linked to the solemnity of the Assumption, celebrated on August 15th.

Rites and Devotion

The heart of the festival is religious: in the evenings preceding Ferragosto, the rosary is recited in front of the chapel, while on August 15th, the solemn Mass in Piazza Arese and the evening procession with the statue of the Madonna draw the faithful through the city streets. Upon returning to the sanctuary, a relic is displayed for veneration, the culmination of an ancient and heartfelt tradition.

Faith and Community

Organized by the Amici del Pasqué (Friends of Pasqué), the group of volunteers who care for the chapel, the festival combines spiritual dimension and community warmth. As local authorities recall, these celebrations "unite faith and tradition and constitute one of the most cherished moments for the city." To sweeten the August heat, volunteers offer aperitifs after the morning Mass and ice cream and watermelon slices after the evening events: a simple gesture that reflects the convivial spirit of this Ferragosto festival.

An Ancient Devotion

The Cappella del Pasqué, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin of the Transit, is a place dear to the memory of the people of Cesano, custodian of a devotion passed down through generations. While many cities empty out in the central days of August, in Cesano Maderno, the Pasqué draws those who remain in the city and those who return for the occasion, in an event that endures over time. It is one of those neighborhood festivals that give a face and soul to the districts, where the religious dimension naturally intertwines with the social one, and where gathering in front of the chapel for a rosary or a slice of watermelon simply means feeling part of a community.