Saint Margaret Patronal Feast - Betlemme di Chivasso

The patronal feast of the only Betlemme in Italy

There is only one place in Italy, and likely in Europe, that bears the name of Betlemme (Bethlehem): a hamlet of a few hundred inhabitants nestled in the green Canavese countryside, about 2 km from the center of Chivasso and 25 km from Turin, in the Po Valley. Its bell tower is the symbol of a community that has made humility and simplicity its hallmark. Every year, on the second weekend of June, this small village comes alive for the Saint Margaret Patronal Feast, the most cherished event of the year.

A tradition spanning centuries

The origins of the feast are rooted in ancient history: around the year 1000, a priory with an attached hospital dedicated to the Baby Jesus stood in Betlemme, welcoming pilgrims from Northern Europe heading toward Rome and the Holy Land. The devotion to Saint Margaret gave rise to a feast that was originally celebrated in July, then moved to the second Monday of October, and finally fixed to the second weekend of June for climatic and agricultural reasons. This tradition is preserved and passed down by the Pro Loco of Betlemme, founded in the 1950s, which has contributed significantly to the hamlet's life by promoting the construction of the local kindergarten and elementary school.

Three days of community, music, and food

The patronal feast is, first and foremost, a great gathering for the Chivasso community and the many visitors arriving from the Canavese area and the province of Turin. The heart of the event is the food stall, where the Pro Loco and the festival committee volunteers offer traditional Piedmontese dishes: agnolotti, mixed grills, pizza prepared in collaboration with local pizzerias, and other local specialties.

• Musical evenings and dancing with bands, orchestras, and DJs for all ages
• Entertainment and games designed for children and families
• Religious moments in honor of the patron saint, Saint Margaret, with a solemn Holy Mass
• Food stall open every evening with typical Canavese dishes

Why it is worth visiting

The Saint Margaret Feast is the perfect opportunity to discover an unusual corner of Piedmont: a Betlemme hidden in the plains, with a church that houses a fragment of the Nativity Grotto brought from the Holy Land and a replica grotto under the altar, the result of an ancient spiritual twinning with Bethlehem in Palestine. Participating in the feast means experiencing the authentic hospitality of a small community, tasting genuine Canavese cuisine, and getting caught up in evenings of music and joy, in a familiar atmosphere far from mass-market events.