Lezzeno Spring Bonfires

The fires that greet winter

The Lezzeno Spring Bonfires is one of the most evocative traditions of Lake Como, in the Municipality of Lezzeno (Province of Como). On the evening of March 18th, along the seven kilometers of the town's beaches, the numerous hamlets light their own large bonfires, in a ritual that has been repeated for centuries.

An ancient origin

The tradition is said to have its roots in Roman times, when the area was a fortress: propitiatory fires were lit on the days of transition between winter and spring as a gesture of purification, burning old material and the brambles that infested the fields, to celebrate the arrival of the fertile period. Each hamlet - Lezzeno has numerous - sets up and lights its own bonfire, in a competition of tradition and participation.

Four days of celebration

The ritual unfolds according to an ancient popular calendar:

• March 18th: lighting of the bonfires on the beaches in the evening, after an afternoon spent cycling or walking to admire the setups
• March 19th: Feast of San Giuseppe
• March 20th: The fair
• March 21st: The arrival of spring

Between evening processions, food, and drinks at the various bonfires, it is an opportunity to discover an authentic and popular side of Lake Como, far from the most beaten tourist routes.