Festa Patronale di Santa Cristina

The cult of Saint Christina in Sepino

Saint Christina is venerated in Sepino, a municipality in the Matese mountains in the province of Campobasso, as the patron saint of the community. Tradition recalls her as a young martyr who lived between the 3rd and 4th centuries, whose cult spread throughout the Christian world from antiquity. The village's bond with the saint is so deep that celebrations are repeated at different times of the year.

A festival in two parts

The Sepino calendar features two main events: the July festival, which revolves around the 24th, the day of the saint's death (dies natalis), and the January celebrations (8-10) linked to the translation of the relics, with the evocative procession of the Verginelle (young virgins) and the uninterrupted ringing of bells throughout the night. The summer festival is the most impressive in terms of civil events, with the traditional livestock fair and market, a legacy of the ancient peasant economy of the Matese.

Procession, fireworks, and Festival of the Emigrant

The climax is the solemn procession on July 24th, when the bust of Saint Christina passes through the streets of the historic center, with the participation of the entire community. The evening concludes with a fireworks display at midnight. July 25th is dedicated to the Festival of the Emigrant, a gathering moment for Sepino natives who have returned from all over the world, with a mass, concert, and community lunch. The organization is handled by the Comitato Festa Santa Cristina di Sepino (Saint Christina Festival Committee of Sepino).