Patronal Feast of Saint Nicholas of Myra

The patron saint of Polla, in the heart of the Vallo di Diano

Saint Nicholas of Myra, the bishop from Asia Minor whose relics arrived in Bari in 1087, is the patron saint of Polla, a municipality in the province of Salerno overlooking the Vallo di Diano, in Campania. His feast day falls on December 6th and has always been the most significant moment of the religious year in Polla: a fixed date around which celebrations, popular devotion, and village life revolve.

The village's bond with the Saint is etched into its very architecture. Polla preserves two churches dedicated to him: the Church of San Nicola dei Greci — with its beautiful stone portal, a testament to the presence of the Greek community in the Byzantine era — and the Church of San Nicola dei Latini, of medieval origin. These are material proofs of a devotion layered over centuries, spanning different cultures and rites.

Two days between liturgy and community

The patronal feast is centered on December 5th and 6th. The core of the celebration remains religious: solemn liturgical services in the church dedicated to the Saint, led by the parish priest, and the procession with the statue of Saint Nicholas through the main streets of the town, accompanied by a brass band and the participation of the confraternities. The blessing of the community and the children, following an ancient custom, ideally closes the devotional path.

Alongside the religious aspect, the civil side of the festival is organized by the Festival Committee together with the I Nicolini association and the Pro Loco, with the support of the Municipality of Polla. These are the moments when the town gathers in the central squares, particularly in the area of Piazza dei Parlamenti, for the musical and entertainment events that accompany the recurrence.

Saint Nicholas, the gift-bearing saint

There is an aspect that makes the Polla festival particularly interesting for visitors. Saint Nicholas is the historical figure from whom the modern Santa Claus derives via Central Europe: in Polla, the municipal administration has chosen to highlight this root by celebrating the tradition of Saint Nicholas bringing gifts to children in schools. In short, the Saint returns to his rightful place, before and above his commercial version.

For this reason, the patronal feast also serves as the opening of the town's Christmas calendar: from December 5th onwards, a series of cultural initiatives, shows, and family events take place until Epiphany, with the lighting of decorations and the nativity scene competition being among the most anticipated moments for the community.

A patron saint celebrated twice a year

In Polla, Saint Nicholas is not celebrated only in December. As happens in Bari, the translation of the relics is also commemorated here in the spring, marking the arrival of the Saint's bones in the Apulian city in 1087. In May 2026, the Festival Committee, I Nicolini, and the Pro Loco organized religious and civil events in the Piazza dei Parlamenti area, including a pilgrimage to the Saint's tomb in Bari. This confirms a living and organized devotion that does not end with the single patronal day.

Polla, the village that welcomes the festival

Those arriving for the festival will find a village that deserves a visit in its own right. Polla is divided by the Tanagro river, nestled between the Alburni mountains and the Maddalena chain, and preserves a medieval castle from the 12th century, the Convent of Saint Anthony from 1541 with its forty paintings and the wooden crucifix by Friar Umile da Petralia, the Roman bridge, and the famous Lapis Pollae, the Latin inscription that tells the story of the Roman road network in the area. The mausoleum of Gaius Uzianus Rufus, a Roman tomb, is at the very origin of the town's name.

The Polla December, with its lights turned on and the streets of the center filled by the procession, is perhaps the best time to capture the identity of this corner of inland Campania: a small community, proud of its history and capable of transforming a date on the liturgical calendar into a collective event.