Natale Piccirill

The village where Christmas arrives twice

In Sirignano, a small town in the Baianese area of the province of Avellino, Christmas is celebrated twice. The first is the 'piccirill'—meaning 'little'—Christmas: the Natale Piccirill, a mid-November event dedicated to the eve of the feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle, the community's patron saint, celebrated on November 30th. It is one of the most iconic traditions of Irpinia and inland Campania, kept alive year after year by the Pro Loco Sant'Andrea with the patronage of the Municipality and the support of the UNPLI.

A story of anchovies and solidarity

At the origin of the event lies a very concrete gesture. At the beginning of the last century, Father Francesco Fiordelisi, a priest of Sirignano origin, distributed packages of fresh anchovies to the poorest families in the village so that they too could prepare a meal for the patron saint's eve. From that gift, the custom was born of anticipating a 'little Christmas' in November, filled with shared tables, lit fires, and songs: the 'Natale piccirill', which the community now revives as a collective festival open to visitors.

The cuisine of the eve

The gastronomic heart of the event is the humble, seafaring tradition of the Campanian eves, reinterpreted with products from the Irpinian mountains. Among the offerings at the stalls:

• linguine with walnuts and anchovies, the festival's signature first course;
• cod and fried anchovies, a direct nod to Father Fiordelisi's gift;
• caciocavallo impiccato, melted over embers and served on bread;
• pizza di Raurinio, a local specialty;
• montanara and fried pizza, also available in a sweet version with hazelnut or pistachio cream;
• polenta with sausage or beans;
• roasted chestnuts and vincotto, along with other typical Irpinian products.

Market, guided tours, and traveling music

Alongside the food stalls, the historic center hosts a craft market curated by local hobbyists and artisans, set up in the village squares—specifically Piazza Principessa Rosa and Piazzetta Barbati—featuring handmade creations, wooden objects, ceramics, and Christmas decorations.

The program also includes free guided tours of the historic center, designed to introduce visitors to the village's history, and traveling musical performances: folk music groups with traditional instruments, Neapolitan 'posteggia' singers, and local artists moving from square to square. In recent editions, the organization has also provided a dedicated camper area to welcome those arriving from out of town.

Sirignano, between the Partenio and the Clanio valley

Sirignano has just over two thousand inhabitants and lies at the foot of the Partenio mountains, in the western part of the province of Avellino, bordering the Nola area. Its most famous monument is the Palazzo dei Principi Caravita, with its park and historic gardens, which have hosted parts of the festival in some editions. Its location, just a few kilometers from Baiano and Nola, makes the village easily accessible from Naples and allows visitors to combine the trip with an itinerary through the towns of the Baianese and the Partenio Regional Park.

When it takes place

Natale Piccirill is traditionally held in mid-November, in the days leading up to the feast of Saint Andrew, with a format running from Friday to Saturday or Sunday, with evenings starting around 6:00 PM and continuing until late. The 2024 edition took place from November 15th to 17th, and the 2025 edition on November 14th and 15th. The dates for the next edition are usually announced by the Pro Loco Sant'Andrea in the preceding weeks through their social media channels and local Irpinian press.