Lòm a Mêrz

Lòm a Mêrz, the fire that announces spring

Lòm a Mêrz — literally "light in March" — is one of the most evocative and ancient rites of the peasant civilization of Emilia-Romagna. In Ozzano dell'Emilia, a municipality in the metropolitan city of Bologna located along the Via Emilia at the foot of the first Apennine hills, this tradition comes back to life thanks to the commitment of the Pro Loco, with the patronage of the Municipality. The event revives the custom of lighting propitiatory bonfires in the countryside, fueled by pruning and brushwood collected from the fields, to ward off the negative influences of the past agricultural season and promote the return of spring and the resumption of plant life.

A rite of rural origin

The roots of Lòm a Mêrz lie in a peasant world where the transition from winter to the warmer season was awaited and celebrated with collective gestures. The fires, lit between late February and the first days of March, had a propitiatory function: they were meant to ensure an abundant harvest and the prosperity of the community. Around the flames, people gathered to share words, warmth, and the anticipation of a new cycle of the earth. It is in these simple gestures that the authentic soul of the countryside lives.

The protagonist farms

In Ozzano dell'Emilia, the event takes place over a weekend and directly involves the local farms, which open their doors to the public to witness the lighting of the bonfires. It is a way to introduce people to the rural world of Ozzano, its crops, and the deep bond between the community and its land. The initiative aims to pass on agricultural heritage by also involving younger generations in a shared cultural experience.

A tradition spread throughout Emilia-Romagna

Lòm a Mêrz is not an isolated festival: in these weeks, dozens of countrysides between Bologna and Romagna are lit by the same fires, in a widespread calendar that unites villages, hamlets, and farms under the same ancient rite. Ozzano dell'Emilia participates in this great mosaic of popular traditions, preserving and renewing a custom that is part of the region''s deepest identity.

A free event for everyone

Admission to the event is free. The events, scheduled for the late afternoon, are designed for families and anyone who wishes to rediscover a living page of the peasant culture of Emilia-Romagna. In case of bad weather, the lighting may be canceled.