Patronal Feast of Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas, Patron Saint of Bonefro

Bonefro, a village in Basso Molise in the province of Campobasso, perched at about 600 meters above sea level, celebrates its patron saint Saint Nicholas around May 9th. The date is not the canonical December 6th, but the one linked to the translation of the saint's relics from Myra to Bari, also celebrated in many Southern Italian communities connected to the cult of Saint Nicholas.

Between the Mother Church and the Church of Saint Nicholas

The celebrations revolve around the Mother Church of Santa Maria delle Rose, a building of Romanesque origin that was remodeled several times in the 18th century, and the small Church of Saint Nicholas, built outside the walls as a country church and documented as early as 1614. It is here that the saint's effigy returns at the end of the procession.

Manna and Panettelle

The most heartfelt moment of the feast is the blessing of the village with the relic of Saint Nicholas' Manna and the distribution of panettelle, small blessed breads distributed during the religious rite, which tradition dictates should be kept at home to protect the family and harvests from lightning. Alongside devotion, the feast is also an occasion for reunion for the many emigrants from Bonefro who return to their hometown, with a musical band, evening shows, and fireworks.