Patronal Feast of Saints Sebastian and Fabian with Focarone and Pork, Cecatielli and Beans Festival

A patronal feast in the heart of Irpinia

In Aiello del Sabato, a town of just over four thousand residents in the province of Avellino, January has always been the month of the big celebration. The community honors its patron saints, Saint Sebastian the martyr and Pope Saint Fabian, with a two-week calendar that blends, as per Irpinian tradition, the religious program organized by the Parish of Santa Maria della Natività and the civil events hosted by local associations and the Municipality.

The village, nestled on the hills sloping down toward the Sabato river just a few kilometers from the provincial capital, transforms for the occasion: streets are illuminated, the statues of the Saints are carried in procession to the Mother Church, and the main square becomes a meeting point for families, returning emigrants, and visitors from neighboring towns in the valley.

The Focarone, the bonfire that warms the winter

The most anticipated moment is the Focarone, the great bonfire lit at dawn on January 20th, the feast day of Saint Sebastian. The woodpile, prepared in the preceding days by the local youth, is blessed and ignited at the first light of morning: people gather around the fire to warm up, toast, and share the first tastes of the day. It is both a civil and devotional rite, found in dozens of towns across Irpinia between the feasts of Saint Anthony Abbot and Saint Sebastian, serving here as a powerful symbol of local identity and belonging.

The day continues with the Grand Band Concert, the Solemn Mass in the morning, and the procession of the Patron Saints through the streets of the center. As evening falls, the community gathers once more around the Focarone, which continues to burn, while the sky lights up with the fireworks display that symbolically closes the feast day.

The Pork, Cecatielli and Beans Festival

The following day, the celebration moves to the table. At the Madre Teresa di Calcutta Social Center on Via Pasquale Stanislao Mancini, the Pork, Cecatielli and Beans Festival takes center stage—a gastronomic event showcasing winter Irpinian country cuisine, centered on pork and preserved legumes:

• Pork prepared in traditional ways, from sausages to grilled ribs;
• Cecatielli and beans: fresh, handmade pasta, the Irpinian cousin of cavatelli, served with local beans;
• Homemade bread, traditional desserts, and local wine to round off the evening.

All of this is accompanied by music: group dances and ballroom dancing in the first part of the evening, followed by 70s, 80s, and 90s dance hits that keep the hall packed until late at night. The indoor format is designed specifically for the Irpinian January, when temperatures in the hills can remain quite cold even during the day.

The religious program

The liturgical aspect is the common thread throughout the entire period. It begins with the transfer of the statues of Saints Sebastian and Fabian, carried in procession to the Mother Church of Santa Maria della Natività, and continues with the novena and evening Masses in the following days. On January 20th, the solemn morning celebration, presided over by the Bishop of the Diocese of Avellino, and the midday procession represent the devotional heart of the feast; the evening Mass then concludes the day before the fireworks.

A calendar of bonfires throughout the month

Those visiting Irpinia in January will discover that the Focarone of Aiello del Sabato is not an isolated case: the province of Avellino experiences a true season of fire during this period, with bonfires lit in honor of Saint Anthony Abbot, Saint Sebastian, Saint Felix, and other patrons. The woodpiles, songs, mulled wine, and shared meals form an intangible heritage that remains particularly vibrant in the Apennine hinterland of Campania, far from the tourist routes of the coast.

Why it's worth attending

The Patronal Feast of Saints Sebastian and Fabian is the best opportunity to experience Aiello del Sabato out of season: there are no sets built for tourism, just a community truly coming together, from the freezing dawn around the fire to the brass band in the square and the long tables at the Social Center. For those staying in Avellino or exploring the Sabato valley, these are two days that tell the story of the most authentic Irpinia, rooted in popular devotion and home-cooked food.