Saint Blaise Patronal Feast

A devotion that spans the centuries

The Saint Blaise Patronal Feast is the most anticipated event of the year in Casal Velino, a town in the Cilento region of the province of Salerno, in the heart of Campania. Every February 3rd, the main village, nestled on the hills overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, comes to a standstill to honor the Armenian bishop and martyr venerated as the protector of the throat. This is no ordinary occasion: for the Casal Velino community, it is the day when the town's identity is renewed through ancient rites, brass band music, and flavors passed down from generation to generation.

The ritual of throat anointing

The religious heart of the festival is the ritual of throat anointing, celebrated on the afternoon of February 3rd, following Vespers and the second Holy Mass. The priest imparts the blessing with blessed oil and crossed candles to the faithful lined up before the altar. The gesture is rooted in the legend of Bishop Blaise, who saved a child by freeing him from a fish bone stuck in his throat; since then, the Saint has been invoked everywhere as the protector of the throat and respiratory tract. His relics were translated to Maratea, in Basilicata, in the 8th century, and the devotion spread rapidly throughout Southern Italy.

The procession and the votive 'cente'

The day opens with the morning procession: the patron's silver statue leaves the chapel dedicated to him in the left aisle of the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta and travels through the streets of the historic center, followed by the faithful in prayer and song. Beside the statue march the cente, the traditional votive candle structures carried on shoulders, one of the most characteristic elements of Cilento's popular religiosity. The eve, February 2nd, the day of Candlemas, is dedicated to the translation and enthronement of the statue, a moment of deep emotional participation; the festival concludes days later with the return of the Saint to his chapel.

• Morning procession with the patron's statue through the village streets
• Votive 'cente' carried on the shoulders of the devotees
• Vespers, Holy Mass, and the ritual of throat anointing
• Marching band through the town streets
• Evening fireworks display

Brass bands and fireworks

The religious aspect has always been accompanied by a rich civil program. In recent editions, the most solemn moments have been accompanied by the «La Castellana» Band Concert of Camerota and the Great Band of Cilento, which enliven the town with their traditional parade through the streets and concerts in the square. The day concludes with the fireworks display that illuminates the Cilento sky: in 2026, the appointed company was Pirotecnica Carlo Di Muoio of Vatolla, featuring a night show highly anticipated by enthusiasts.

The 'torta con il naspro', a cake of identity

The festival also has its own flavor. In Casal Velino, on February 3rd, the «pizza roce», also known as torta con il naspro, is served: a soft base decorated with pastry ribbons, covered in a glossy white glaze, vanilla sprinkles, and candied cherries. It is a cake prepared at home and gifted to neighbors, just as it has always been done, and for many locals, it represents the most immediate memory of childhood and the patronal feast.

The day of homecoming

Saint Blaise is also the occasion for returning home. It is not rare for those living far away, in other Italian regions or abroad, to choose February 3rd to return to their hometown: the festival thus becomes an opportunity for family reunions and mending the bonds of a community long dispersed by emigration. Pilgrims and devotees from neighboring Cilento towns join the locals, drawn by the fame of the throat-blessing ritual.

Casal Velino, between hills and sea

The main village of Casal Velino preserves its medieval historic center layout, with narrow alleys, arches, and stairways that make the procession particularly evocative. A few kilometers away lies Marina di Casal Velino, with its long beach and Blue Flags, while all around opens the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visiting the Saint Blaise festival in mid-winter means discovering the authentic, less touristy face of this corner of Campania, when the town belongs only to its inhabitants.