Festa di San Zenone

Saint Zeno, patron saint of Castano Primo

In Castano Primo, a municipality in the Alto Milanese area of the province of Milan, the patronal festival is dedicated to Saint Zeno, Bishop of Verona. The saint became the patron of the town after the construction of the new collegiate church dedicated to him, and the liturgical celebration was moved from spring to the end of October, replacing the previous patron, Saint Fedele. The festival falls on the fourth Sunday of October.

The "brusà il balon" rite

The most evocative element of the festival is the tradition of "brusà il balon": during the solemn Mass, a large balloon made of a metal structure covered in cotton is burned at the altar. The gesture symbolizes the flame of faith that animated martyrs and saints, and represents one of the most identity-defining moments for the Castanese community.

The historic fair

Inseparable from the patronal festival is the historic fair, which fills the town center with stalls and merchandise. Its origins date back to the 18th century, during the Spanish rule, when the fair attracted merchants and buyers for the trade of fabrics and livestock, particularly cattle. Even today, the San Zenone fair combines the religious dimension of the patronal festival with the centuries-old commercial tradition of Castano Primo, in an event that draws visitors from all over the region.