Pagaruoi - Epiphany Bonfires

The Epiphany Fires in the Dolomites

In Rocca Pietore, a municipality in the Agordino area of the province of Belluno, one of the oldest and most fascinating traditions of the Dolomites is revived on the evening of January 5th: the lighting of the pagaruoi, the great propitiatory bonfires linked to the eve of Epiphany. It is a rite that has its roots in pre-Christian customs and that the Ladin-speaking community has preserved from generation to generation.

The Meaning of the Bonfire

The fire represents the farewell to the past year—which is symbolically burned—and the welcome of the new, purified by the flames. According to tradition, omens for the agricultural year about to begin were drawn from the direction of the smoke and sparks.

The Donàza, the Ladin Befana

The central figure of the night is the donàza, the local version of Befana: on the night of Epiphany, she brings sweets and gifts to good children and coal to those who have been naughty. She is the familiar and domestic face of a festival that unites the entire community around the warmth of the fire.

The Hamlets in the Spotlight

The bonfires are lit in various hamlets of the municipality: Malga Ciapela, Sottoguda, Col di Rocca, Saviner di Laste, and Digonera. In each, the population gathers around the fire to sing traditional songs and await the night of the Magi together, in an atmosphere that makes Rocca Pietore a special destination for those who love the Dolomites in winter.