Pignarûl di Scodovacca

The fire that announces the New Year

On the evening of January 6th, pignarûi, the great Epiphany bonfires rooted in pre-Christian rites, are lit throughout Friuli. The small hamlet of Scodovacca, in Cervignano del Friuli, also preserves this custom with its Pignarûl, an eagerly awaited gathering moment for the local community at the start of each year.

A tradition read in the smoke

According to ancient Friulian belief, the direction of the bonfire's smoke foretells the year's destiny: if the smoke heads east, it's a sign of good fortune and a bountiful harvest; if it veers west, it suggests more difficult times and, in the past, the need to emigrate in search of work. It is a simple and evocative propitiatory rite that binds the community to the land and the cycle of the seasons.

Around the bonfire

The event takes place at the parish house of Scodovacca, in Via Lino Stabile. While the flames illuminate the winter evening, mulled wine is offered to adults and hot chocolate to children, in a convivial atmosphere typical of village festivals. The organization is managed by ASD Sport Planet in collaboration with the parish of Cervignano and the Department of Sport.

An authentic small festival

The Pignarûl di Scodovacca does not have the scale of major events, but for this very reason, it retains the original value of the tradition intact: a fire, a community, good wishes for the New Year. For those visiting the Bassa Friulana in winter, it is an opportunity to experience one of Friuli's most distinctive customs up close.