Natale Insieme a Paupisi

A month of lights in the heart of Sannio

In Paupisi, a town of just over 1,300 inhabitants in the province of Benevento, resting on the northern slopes of the Camposauro massif, Christmas is not just a single event but a widespread calendar that spans from December through to the Epiphany. Called "Natale Insieme a Paupisi", it is the result of a collective effort: the Pro Loco Paupisi APS, the Municipality of Paupisi, the Santa Maria del Bosco parish, the "Il Sogno" association, the Youth Forum, and local clubs join forces and ideas to ensure the town square remains a communal living room. It is a grassroots festival, much like many of the best Christmas offerings in inland Campania: no major sponsors, just a town that organizes itself.

The tree lighting, the most anticipated moment

The heart of the event is the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Piazza Don Tommaso Boscaino, which reached its eighth edition in December 2025. The grand tree is illuminated in the evening, accompanied by a pyromusical show—fireworks synchronized to music, managed by the Pannella company—designed especially for children. On stage, performances by students from the Paupisi Primary School alternate with those of dancer Eleonora Ocone, the event's long-standing patroness.

In the hours leading up to the lighting, the square transforms: Santa's House welcomes the little ones, inflatables are set up, entertainers roam about, and the food stall offers local specialties. The 2025 edition saw a turnout that exceeded all organizers' expectations, confirming Paupisi as a Christmas reference point for the area.

A program built around children

The most characteristic part of "Natale Insieme" is the series of small events that fill the following weeks, almost all dedicated to children:

• creative workshops at the Pro Loco headquarters, such as "Santa Lucia's Magic Cookies," created with the Santa Maria del Bosco parish;
• the school recital for preschool and primary students in the school auditorium, featuring themed songs and music;
• the arrival of Santa Claus at schools, a morning organized by the Municipality with the "Motomaniaci" and "Legio Linteata" clubs, who escort the guest of honor among the classrooms;
• the arrival of the Befana in the square on January 6th, with the distribution of gifts to children.

Charity, bingo, and village life

Alongside events for the little ones, the calendar reserves ample space for adults and charitable initiatives. The charity dinner promoted by the "Il Sogno" association together with the Municipality and Pro Loco is one of the most heartfelt moments, dedicated to the values of sharing; the Scala 40 and Burraco tournament at the Pro Loco headquarters fills the afternoons between Christmas and New Year's; and the Super Tombolata (bingo) in the municipal gym on the eve of the Epiphany closes the festivities with the most traditional formula possible. In between, there is New Year's Eve: a collective toast and fireworks display in the square organized by the Municipality, shortly after midnight.

Flavors and territory

The food stall is the perfect opportunity to taste the rustic cuisine of the Benevento Sannio region, including fried treats, festive sweets, and local products. Paupisi is located a stone's throw from Torrecuso, the home of Aglianico del Taburno wine, and within the Taburno-Camposauro Regional Park area: visitors from out of town can combine an evening in the square with a stroll through the villages of the Telesina Valley or a visit to a winery.

Why it's worth the trip

Do not expect the large Christmas markets of major cities: "Natale Insieme a Paupisi" is the opposite, and that is precisely its value. It is a village Christmas where the protagonists are the school children, the Pro Loco volunteers, and the families who gather under the lights of the square. For those visiting the Campanian hinterland in winter, it is an opportunity to see a small community in action, welcomed with warmth and without the crowds.

Organizers

The event is coordinated by the Pro Loco Paupisi APS—one of the most active in the province of Benevento, with headquarters and an info point on Via Luigi Sturzo—in collaboration with the Municipality of Paupisi, with the patronage of the Ponte-Torrecuso-Paupisi Comprehensive Institute and the provincial and regional UNPLI, and with the contribution of the "Il Sogno" association, the Youth Forum, and local clubs.