Pan e Vin

A ritual that comes from afar

On the night of Epiphany, bonfires are lit throughout Friuli. These are the Pan e Vin (or pignarûi, depending on the area), large bonfires with roots in ancient propitiatory rites, much older than Christianity. In Castions di Strada, in the province of Udine, the Pro Loco Maggio Castionese preserves this tradition with a festival that intertwines the sacred and the profane, devotion and conviviality.

From the Magi's procession to the lighting

The evening follows a script that repeats identically year after year, and precisely for this reason, it is precious. It begins in church with the blessing of water, salt, and fruit; then the procession of the Magi begins, crossing the town accompanied by the "G. Rossini" Municipal Band. The climax is the lighting of the Pan e Vin in front of the sports field: according to tradition, the direction of the smoke and sparks foretells what the coming year will be like.

Around the fire

While the flames illuminate the winter evening, the kiosk remains open with mulled wine, tea, hot chocolate, sandwiches, orzotto, panettone, and other specialties. There is also time to visit the living Nativity scene, which completes the Christmas atmosphere of this entirely Friulian festival. It is a simple and powerful community ritual, the kind that warms the heart even before the hands.

A living tradition in the lowlands

The Pan e Vin of Castions di Strada is one of the many bonfires that dot the Friulian plain on the evening of January 6th, but it retains a particularly authentic and participatory character. For those visiting Friuli in winter, it is an opportunity to experience firsthand one of the region's most heartfelt identity traditions.