Lom a Merz

The Lom a Merz of Borgo Tossignano

As winter draws to a close, one of the most cherished bonfires in the Santerno valley is lit in the square of Borgo Tossignano, in the Province of Bologna. The Lom a Merz — from the Romagnolo dialect meaning 'light in March' — is an ancient propitiatory rite of peasant origin that celebrates the transition from winter to spring. Organized by the Pro Loco Borgo Tossignano aps, the event takes place in Piazza Unità d'Italia, in the heart of the town, and attracts families, curious onlookers, and enthusiasts of Romagnolo traditions every year.

An Ancient Romagnolo Tradition

In the last days of February and the first days of March, peasant communities throughout Romagna used to gather in their courtyards to light large bonfires with vine shoots, straw, and dry branches left over from winter pruning. Flames, an ancestral and powerful element, illuminated the path to March with the wish that the new season would be mild, generous, and rich in harvests. A collective gesture to ward off the cold, banish bad luck, and entrust the hope of fertile fields to the earth. In Borgo Tossignano, this rite survives intact and becomes a village festival.

Bonfire, Gastronomy, and Music

The evening follows a well-tested script: in the late afternoon, the Pro Loco's food stand opens, offering authentic flavors of Romagnolo cuisine — polenta with ragù, piadina with sausage, ficattola, and mulled wine to warm up. As dusk falls, the lighting of the large bonfire takes place, the highlight that gathers the entire village around the fire. Afterwards, there is space for popular music and folklore performances, which accompany attendees until late in the evening.

Part of a Widespread Festival

The Borgo Tossignano bonfire is part of the large Lom a Merz festival, which every year lights dozens of bonfires in farms, agriturismos, restaurants, and squares throughout Romagna and the Bologna area, from the Imola district to the coast. A widespread network of events that rediscovers rural culture, ancient grains, and typical products, making this rite one of the identity events of the late winter season in Emilia-Romagna.