Pignarul Festival of Gonars

The Pignarul, the Friulian Epiphany Bonfire

The Pignarul (or pignarul) is one of Friuli's oldest and most deeply rooted traditions: the large Epiphany bonfire, which is lit in many towns across the region on the night of January 6th. According to popular custom, the direction of the smoke and sparks indicates the trend for the coming year, and the fire symbolically banishes winter and the old year. In Gonars, a town in the Bassa Friulana region in the Province of Udine, the Festa del Pignarul takes place in Piazza Municipio and involves the entire community.

A Day of Celebration for Everyone

The day of January 6th begins in the morning with the opening of the stalls and the start of the construction of the large bonfire. The afternoon picks up pace with the distribution of hot chocolate and mulled wine, the arrival of Befana with gifts for the children, accompanied by flag-wavers and musicians, and the grand lighting of the Pignarul. The evening concludes with the lottery draw, while the stalls offer French fries, sausages, pizza, and other specialties inside a heated tent.

Tradition and Community in Gonars

Organized by the Pro Loco of Gonars, the Festa del Pignarul is the event with which the town bids farewell to the Christmas festivities and welcomes the new year. It is a moment of strong Friulian identity, where the bonfire tradition intertwines with a celebration for families and children, in a warm and welcoming atmosphere despite the winter cold of the Bassa region.