Patronal Feast of Saint Hilary

Parma's Civic Celebration

On January 13th, the Municipality of Parma celebrates its patron saint, Saint Hilary of Poitiers, with the most identity-defining festival of the city's calendar. It is not just a religious observance: it is the day when Parma, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna, recognizes itself as a community and rewards individuals, businesses, and associations that have honored the city with their commitment. The day intertwines moments of faith, institutional ceremony, and popular tradition.

The Saint Hilary Award and Civic Merit Awards

The civil heart of the festival is the ceremony for the conferral of the Saint Hilary Award and Civic Merit Awards, held at the Teatro Regio of Parma in the morning. Established in 1986 by the then municipal administration, the Award is presented to citizens, bodies, and associations distinguished in the fields of work, civic engagement, culture, sport, science, and solidarity. The ceremony includes the presentation of Gold Medals, Civic Merit certificates, and Special Mentions, and is open to the public with free admission until seats are filled, in addition to being broadcast live on the Municipality's YouTube channel.

Religious Celebrations

The liturgical calendar accompanies the entire day. In the morning, the Holy Mass is celebrated in the Oratory of Saint Hilary, on via Massimo D'Azeglio, while in the late afternoon, the solemn celebration in the Cathedral, presided over by the Bishop, gathers the faithful around the figure of the patron saint. Saint Hilary, a bishop of Poitiers in the 4th century, a theologian and Doctor of the Church, has been the patron saint of Parma since the Middle Ages.

The Legend of the 'Scarpette'

One of the city's most beloved traditions is linked to the festival. Legend has it that Saint Hilary, arriving in Parma on a snowy day barefoot, was given a pair of new shoes by a shoemaker; the next morning, the craftsman found his old shoes transformed into gold. In memory of the miracle of the shoes, Parma's pastry chefs prepare the 'Scarpette di Sant'Ilario', shortcrust pastry biscuits shaped like shoes, covered with icing, chocolate, sprinkles, or dried fruit, which fill the shop windows of the city center during the festival days.

An Event for the Entire City

The Patronal Feast of Saint Hilary is the moment when Parma, the capital of its province in Emilia-Romagna, stages its history and its community. Between the solemnity of the Teatro Regio, the solemnity of the Cathedral, and the sweetness of the 'Scarpette', January 13th offers citizens and visitors an authentic portrait of Parma's identity.