Madonna della Libera Festival

A devotion spanning the centuries

In Moiano, a small town in the Province of Benevento nestled on the southwestern slopes of Monte Taburno, the Madonna della Libera Festival is more than just a date on the calendar: it is the very identity of the town. Historical records document the cult of 'Santa Maria de Mojano' as early as 1500, with the festival's procedures codified in their current form since 1514. In 1700, Pope Innocent XII granted a plenary indulgence to pilgrims visiting the sanctuary on September 8th; in 1914, the statue received a solemn coronation, and in 1991, it was blessed by Pope John Paul II following a restoration carried out in Florence.

The Black Madonna of Sannio

The statue venerated in Moiano is a Black Madonna, one of approximately 150 identified in Italy. Scholars link its dark complexion to an icon of Eastern origin transformed into a sculpture during the Renaissance; Byzantine coins bearing the inscription of Constantine VII (905-959) have been found near the ancient church. The title 'della Libera' (of the Liberator) is tied to the tradition that the Virgin saved Benevento from the siege of the Byzantine Emperor Constans II in 663, though popular devotion primarily associates it with the belief that 'Mary frees us from evils,' as noted by the Bishop of the Diocese of Cerreto Sannita-Telese-Sant'Agata de' Goti.

From August 15th to September 8th: the time of waiting

The festival does not begin on September 7th. Traditionally, August 15th marks the start of preparations, when the flag bearing the image of the Madonna is hoisted in the town center. This is followed by the novena, which is always well-attended: every evening features the rosary, Eucharistic blessing, and prayers to the Black Madonna, with evenings dedicated to children, families, the sick, the youth, the consecrated, and the deceased. On September 7th, the statue is adorned with its blue mantle, gold, and the ex-voto offerings of the faithful: beautiful 'like a queen,' as they say in Moiano.

September 8th: twelve hours of procession

The heart of the festival is September 8th, the day the Church celebrates the Nativity of Mary. At 9:00 AM, a solemn mass opens the day; afterwards, the statue leaves the Church of San Pietro Apostolo and traverses the streets of Moiano in a procession that only concludes around 9:00 PM, at sunset. It is one of the longest processions in Campania: thousands of pilgrims arrive from the towns of the Valle Caudina and Sannio to accompany the route on foot, many with hands joined, some on their knees.

The 'arriffa' and the 'strascino' ritual

Two customs make the Moiano festival truly unique. The first is the arriffa, a contest between groups of local men to determine who earns the honor of carrying the statue on their shoulders throughout the day. The second, and most striking, is the 'strascino' ritual: upon returning to the church, the statue enters backwards, and devotees accompany it to the altar by dragging their tongues across the floor to fulfill a vow or ask for a grace. An ancient penitential gesture, still practiced today by dozens of people, which has survived almost exclusively here and in Ripacandida, Basilicata.

Illuminations, bands, and fireworks

Alongside the religious program, there is a secular one organized by the Municipality of Moiano in collaboration with the festival committee. On September 7th, 8th, and 9th, the main streets are decorated with artistic illuminations, the square hosts brass band concerts and musical performances, while stalls featuring typical Sannio products are set up along the route. The festivities conclude punctually with a grand fireworks display.

Moiano and the Valle Caudina

Moiano has just under 4,000 inhabitants and is located at an altitude of 271 meters, along the Isclero River, within the Taburno-Camposauro Regional Park. The town is known as the 'Garden of Mary,' and its sanctuary is one of the most important devotional hubs between the provinces of Benevento, Caserta, and Naples. For those visiting inland Campania, the September festival is the best opportunity to understand how popular religiosity remains the living fabric of these villages: an intangible heritage that the Campania Region preserves through dozens of similar events, but which in Moiano takes on an intensity that is hard to forget.