Saint Anthony Abbot Festival

A rural devotion renewed every January

In the heart of winter, when the countryside of the lower Roman Sabina rests, the village of Civitella San Paolo gathers for one of its most cherished traditions: the Saint Anthony Abbot Festival. As the patron saint of domestic animals and livestock, the hermit saint has been a beloved figure in rural life for centuries. In Civitella San Paolo, the festival preserves its authentic character as a community ritual, marked by fire, prayer, and the blessing of the beasts.

When it takes place

The festival falls on the Sunday closest to January 17th, the day the Church commemorates Saint Anthony Abbot. The events are centered in Piazza San Giacomo, an intimate square in the historic center that serves as the heart of the day's activities.

The program

The celebration begins very early: at dawn, the "Saint Anthony Fire" is lit, a bonfire that evokes the ancient symbolism linked to the Saint and around which the community gathers in the early morning hours. At 11:00 AM, Holy Mass is celebrated, followed by a procession with the statue of the Saint through the village streets.

• Lighting of the Saint Anthony Fire at dawn
• Holy Mass at 11:00 AM
• Procession with the statue of the Saint, accompanied by knights, the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows, and the Brothers of Saint James
• Blessing of the people and animals at the end of the procession
• Afternoon: animal exhibition, grilled meats, and fresh cheese

The blessing of the animals

The most anticipated moment is the blessing of the animals, the ancient core of the devotion to Anthony Abbot: farmers and families bring their animals to the square to receive the Saint's protection. It is a gesture that intertwines popular faith and agricultural culture, keeping the bond between the village and its rural roots alive today.

Flavors and conviviality

In the afternoon, the festival becomes more convivial: the animal exhibition is accompanied by grilled meats and freshly made cheese, genuine local products that close the day in a festive village atmosphere.

Civitella San Paolo, a village in the Sabina region

Located in the province of Rome, in the Lazio region, on the borders of the Sabina and a short distance from the Tiber Valley, the Municipality of Civitella San Paolo preserves a historic center dominated by its castle and historic churches—including San Giacomo, which gives its name to the festival square. The Saint Anthony Abbot Festival, along with the spring Festival of the Baskets and Blessed Bread, is among the events that best express the identity and popular traditions of this community.