Happy Fania - Befana Flight

The flight that kicks off the year in Montecorvino Pugliano

There is a moment at the start of every year when the small town of Montecorvino Pugliano, in the province of Salerno, looks up in unison. It happens during Happy Fania, the festival that has given a fresh name to the most anticipated event on the local calendar: the Befana Flight. The old lady appears at the top of the San Bernardino church bell tower and begins her descent, suspended above Via Diaz, the main street of Pugliano, while the crowd below applauds and children point to the sky.

It is not just a simple attraction; it is how this Campania community celebrates the Epiphany, wrapping up the holiday season with a street festival that belongs to everyone, from the youngest children to the grandparents who remember past editions.

From the bell tower along all of Via Diaz

The flight is the heart of the event and has grown over time. While the Befana's route was shorter in the early years, the descent has recently been extended to cover the entire length of Via Diaz: a much longer path that allows everyone along the street to watch the old lady pass overhead. It is a scenic choice that has made the moment even more spectacular, meticulously prepared by safety technicians.

The public gathers along the sidewalks and in the small side squares early in the afternoon, when the center is closed to traffic and becomes an open-air stage.

An afternoon of entertainment

The Befana Flight never comes alone. The day's program combines different forms of entertainment designed for an intergenerational audience:

• Street artists: stilt walkers, jugglers, giant bubbles, fire shows, and roving performances along the street
• Dance shows by local schools, bringing their students out into the street
• Live musical performances, ranging from folk to contemporary repertoires
• Children's entertainment, with games, mascots, and the distribution of sweets and stockings
• Tombolata (bingo) and collective games, in the best tradition of Southern Italian Epiphany festivals

In editions spanning multiple days, the program has also included folk concerts, aerial gymnastics shows, a "Befana talent show," and tastings of local products.

"Draw my Befana": children as protagonists

The "Draw my Befana" contest deserves a special mention, as it involves primary school students from Pugliano. In the weeks leading up to the event, children create their themed drawings, and the best works are awarded on stage in front of the whole town during the festival. It is a simple and effective way to connect the festival to the school and make the little ones feel like part of the event, rather than just spectators.

A festival built by the town

Happy Fania is organized by the Municipality of Montecorvino Pugliano together with the local Pro Loco, with the involvement of associations, dance schools, musical groups, and local volunteers. This network of local entities gives the event its character: it is not a top-down production, but a festival the town builds for itself and gladly opens to visitors from neighboring municipalities, from the Piana del Sele to the hilly towns of the Picentini area.

Why it's worth attending

For those traveling in the Salerno area between Christmas and Epiphany, Happy Fania is an opportunity to see a living popular tradition, not one reconstructed for tourists. The setting helps: Montecorvino Pugliano is just a few kilometers from Salerno and the Salerno-Costa d'Amalfi airport, in a position that makes it easy to combine the festival with a day trip to the hillside villages or along the coast. And then there is that moment when the music fades, everyone turns toward the bell tower, and the Befana begins her descent: that is when you understand why this festival continues to draw such large crowds year after year.