Micigliano Pasquarella

A tradition that spans the centuries

The Micigliano Pasquarella is the major winter event in Micigliano, a tiny municipality in the province of Rieti, in the Lazio region, nestled on the eastern slopes of Mount Terminillo. Every year, on the night of January 5th, the eve of Epiphany, the village transforms into a living nativity scene: groups of singers walk through the stone alleys, stopping at every door to perform their traditional well-wishing carols.

What is the Pasquarella?

The Pasquarella (or Pasquella, as it is known in the Marche and Umbria regions) is a ritual rooted in oral peasant tradition, found throughout the Apennine area spanning Lazio, Umbria, Marche, and Romagna. The name does not refer to Easter (Pasqua), but rather to the announcement of good news: the singers portray the shepherds bringing the news of Jesus' birth from door to door, anticipating the arrival of the Magi. The songs are woven with wishes for the New Year and a request for a small offering, usually in the form of money, food, or wine.

The pasquarellari, costumes, and instruments

The protagonists are the pasquarellari, who wear the historic pastoral attire of the Upper Velino Valley: heavy boots, wool leggings, sheepskins, velvet trousers, flannel shirts, and capes. They are accompanied by a small instrumental ensemble that has remained unchanged over time:

• Organetto — the diatonic accordion that carries the melody;
• Ciaramella — the double-reed instrument of the Apennine pastoral tradition;
• Tambourine — which sets the rhythm for the procession from house to house.

The lyrics are not written down; they are passed down orally from generation to generation, and every village in the Rieti area preserves its own version of verses and choruses. It is precisely this family-based transmission that makes the Micigliano Pasquarella such a fragile and precious intangible heritage.

The Pupazza, a fiery finale

The most anticipated moment comes at the end of the evening, when the singing fades and attention shifts to the Pupazza: a papier-mâché Befana covered in fireworks that is set alight in the square. The burning effigy recalls the propitiatory bonfires linked to seasonal transitions: when the flames die down, only charcoal and ash remain—symbols of renewal and good omens for the year ahead. The same ritual, with local variations, can be found in the nearby village of Borbona and other towns in the Rieti area.

The meaning of the festival today

Micigliano has only a few dozen permanent residents and is one of the least populated municipalities in Lazio. For this reason, the Pasquarella has a value that goes beyond folklore: it is the night the village comes back to life, as those who have moved to Rieti, Rome, or further away return to their family homes. The offerings collected during the rounds are shared in a communal dinner, following the ancient logic of the reciprocal gift.

Visiting the event

The Pasquarella is not a stage performance; it takes place in the streets and on doorsteps, and visitors are welcomed as part of the procession. Bring comfortable shoes for the sloping alleys and warm clothing, as temperatures in the mountains drop well below freezing in January. The event is organized by the Pro Loco Micigliano-Terminillo Tourist Association, which works every year with local families to keep the tradition alive.

In the surroundings

Micigliano is an ideal base for exploring the Upper Velino Valley: the Terminillo massif with its ski lifts and hiking trails, the Velino Gorges, and the nearby villages of Borbona, Posta, and Antrodoco, all in the province of Rieti. Those arriving for the Pasquarella can easily extend their stay by a day to visit Rieti, the provincial capital and the geographical center of Italy, located about 30 kilometers away.