Patronal Feast of Saint Simeon the Prophet

The feast of the patron saint of Camigliano

The Patronal Feast of Saint Simeon the Prophet is the most anticipated event of the year in Camigliano, a village of just over two thousand inhabitants nestled in the Caserta plains, in the province of Caserta and the heart of Campania. Around the second Sunday of October, the entire community comes together to pay homage to their patron saint, in a blend of religious devotion, popular tradition, and village festivities passed down from generation to generation.

The saint and his church

Saint Simeon the Prophet is the figure from the Gospel of Luke who had the privilege of holding the baby Jesus in his arms at the Temple of Jerusalem, prophesying the pain of his passion to the Madonna. The village parish church is dedicated to him, located at the junction of Via San Simeone, Via Rocco, and Via Chiesa: a first chapel was already active in 1577, while the larger church with its dome was completed in 1610. Inside, it houses a precious painting attributed to Antonio Solario, known as 'lo Zingaro', which depicts the Presentation of the Baby Jesus at the Temple.

Two annual events

Devotion to Saint Simeon marks two moments in the Camigliano calendar. On February 2nd, for Candlemas, a suggestive procession takes place where the statue of the Saint and that of the Madonna meet in front of the church: here, the priest symbolically transfers the Baby Jesus from the arms of the Madonna to those of the Saint, while doves and turtledoves are released, commemorating the ancient offering at the Temple. The civil and most popular patronal feast, however, falls around the second Sunday of October, when the statue is carried in procession through the streets of the village.

Faith, tradition, and flavors

The days of the feast are preceded by the novena, nine days of masses and liturgical chants that prepare the community for the recurrence. Alongside religious rites, there is no shortage of the culinary traditions that make this feast unique: struffoli with honey, roast duck, and soffritto, the typical soup prepared with the humble cuts of pork. It is around these flavors, shared with family and guests, that the identity of Camigliano is renewed every year. Organized by the Saint Simeon the Prophet Festival Committee together with the parish, the feast remains one of the most authentic community moments in the Caserta territory.