Rite of the Crosses (Blessing of the Crosses)

An ancestral rite on the Civitella hill

In Moio della Civitella, a small town in the province of Salerno in the heart of Cilento, Campania, March 25th is no ordinary date. On the Feast of the Annunciation, the community climbs the Civitella hill, on the north-western slope of Mount Gelbison, to renew the Rite of the Crosses: the blessing of small chestnut wood crosses that are then taken to fields, vineyards, and homes as a sign of protection and fertility.

This is not a staged re-enactment, but a living tradition passed down through generations by the inhabitants of Moio and the village of Pellare, who still recognize this gesture as one of the most defining traits of their rural culture.

Chestnut wood crosses

The heart of the rite is simple and, for that very reason, fascinating. During the climb to the top of the hill, participants gather freshly sprouted chestnut twigs: two twigs joined together form a cross, made in various sizes, from the smallest ones to those intended for larger plots of land. The crosses are then blessed by the priest during the celebration at the Annunziata chapel.

Once blessed, the crosses return to the valley: they are planted in sown fields, placed on doorsteps, in vegetable gardens, and in vineyards. In Cilento's rural culture, the chestnut cross is both an apotropaic and generative element, warding off evil and ensuring a bountiful harvest for the coming season.

The Annunziata Chapel

The rite takes place around the small Annunziata chapel, a sacred building dedicated to Our Lady of the Annunciation that stands on the summit of the Civitella. Its origins date back to the 15th century, with 19th-century renovations. Local Marian devotion links it to the nearby sanctuary of Mount Gelbison in Novi Velia through the legend of the "seven sisters," the seven Madonnas of Cilento.

The clearing in front of the small church offers a vast view over the Cilento hills and towards the sea: the climb, even for those not participating in the liturgy, is worth the excursion alone.

An archaeological site overlooking Elea-Velia

The hill is not just a place of devotion. The Civitella preserves the remains of a fortified settlement from the Lucanian age, an outpost that controlled the territory behind the Greek colony of Elea-Velia: one can still recognize sections of the defensive walls, the large blocks of the fortress, and the foundations of an ancient gateway. The area is maintained by the Parco della Civitella, which has offered guided tours of the site during the rite.

Faith, seasons, and the agricultural calendar

In the ancient calendar, March 25th marks the transition from winter to spring and the start of the agricultural year. The Rite of the Crosses sits exactly on this threshold: it unites the Christian solemnity of the Annunciation with propitiatory gestures linked to sowing and harvesting, in a continuity that recalls the ancient rogations. According to Luigi Scarpa, president of the Pro Loco Moio della Civitella APS, this is a practice that may have no equivalent elsewhere and belongs to the intangible culture of the Moio and Pellare community, deeply rooted in peasant civilization.

How the day unfolds

• Walk up to the top of the hill along the path leading to the Annunziata church
• Gathering of chestnut twigs and crafting of the crosses, with a dedicated moment for children and teenagers
• Holy Mass in the Annunziata chapel
• Blessing of the crosses, a symbol of rebirth
• Visit to the summit plateau, the panoramic terrace, and the archaeological area

Organizers

The event is organized by the Pro Loco Moio della Civitella APS together with the Parco della Civitella, with the local parish handling the religious aspects. Participation is free and open to all: visitors from outside are welcomed without formality, provided they respect the devotional nature of the occasion.

When to go

The reference date is always March 25th. Only in exceptional cases, when the date falls during Holy Week, is the rite moved by a few days: this happened in 2024, when the blessing was held on April 2nd. Those visiting Cilento during this period can combine the day with a trip to nearby Vallo della Lucania, just 3.5 km away, and the excavations of Velia.