Patronal Feast of Saints Felix and Polycarp

The Patron Saints of Francavilla in Sinni

The Patronal Feast of Saints Felix and Polycarp is the most important religious celebration in Francavilla in Sinni, a village in the Lucanian Pollino region, in the province of Potenza. The relics of the two saints arrived in the town in 1626 from the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus in Rome, and on August 10th, 1628, they were proclaimed principal protectors of the community due to numerous graces received.

Felix and Polycarp, Martyrs of the Faith

According to tradition, Saint Felix was a Roman soldier converted to Christianity and beheaded under Emperor Diocletian, while Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna and an apostolic disciple, suffered martyrdom by fire during the persecutions. Their memory is celebrated with particular fervor on August 9th and 10th, the main day of the feast.

The Tradition of the Cìgljë

The most characteristic element is the cìgljë: decorative structures carried on the heads of the faithful during the procession, made from wheat ears or candles and adorned with ribbons and flowers. Devotees dance with these items around the statues of the saints, in a ritual that intertwines peasant faith, thanksgiving, and community identity.

A Day of Intense Faith

Each year, the festival strengthens the devotion and religious identity of Francavilla in Sinni, bringing the inhabitants together for a day lived with great participation and fervor. The event is part of the life of the Municipality of Francavilla in Sinni, in the Province of Potenza, in the heart of the Pollino National Park.