Saint Nicholas Festival

The patronal feast of Soriano nel Cimino

Every year on December 6th, the town of Soriano nel Cimino—a village in the Viterbo Tuscia region nestled on the slopes of the Cimini Mountains in Lazio—celebrates its patron saint, Saint Nicholas of Bari. The Saint Nicholas Festival is a tradition deeply rooted in the history and spirituality of the town; it is a public holiday where offices close, and it serves as the threshold that ushers the local community into the Christmas spirit. Celebrations are organized by the Pastoral Unit of Soriano nel Cimino, with the support of the municipal administration and local associations.

The Cathedral of Saint Nicholas of Bari

The heart of the festival is the Cathedral, the collegiate church dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Bari, which dominates Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II with its imposing facade. Built in a neoclassical style at the end of the 18th century based on designs by Giulio Camporese, the building features a bright Greek-cross interior topped by a large, stucco-decorated dome. This is where the most solemn liturgical moments of the patronal feast take place.

The preparatory triduum

The festival is not limited to a single day. In the days leading up to December 6th, the Cathedral hosts a preparatory triduum: each evening, vespers and holy mass offer the faithful a moment of reflection and prayer, guiding the community toward the patronal solemnity. It is a familiar, rhythmic tradition that involves local parishes and draws back many former residents.

Solemn mass and the blessing of the Bambinelli

On the afternoon of December 6th, the solemn mass in the Cathedral represents the religious highlight of the festival. A moment particularly cherished by families is the blessing of the 'Bambinelli': children and parishioners bring their Baby Jesus figurines intended for home nativity scenes to the church to be blessed before they are placed in their domestic mangers.

The procession and the tree lighting

At the end of the service, the statue of the saint is carried in procession through the main streets of the historic center, accompanied by a brass band and the composed, large turnout of the local community. The procession concludes in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II where, at the foot of the Cathedral, the Christmas tree is lit: a simple yet deeply felt gesture that marks the official start of the Christmas festivities.

The beginning of Christmas in Soriano

It is no coincidence that the patronal feast paves the way for the village's rich Christmas calendar: in the following days, Soriano nel Cimino transforms with "Natale al Castello" (Christmas at the Castle), an event that brings the historic center and the Orsini Castle to life until Epiphany with lights, markets, and traditions. Visitors arriving for Saint Nicholas can also discover the winter charm of one of the most evocative villages in the Viterbo province, famous in autumn for its Chestnut Festival and surrounded by the ancient beech forests of Monte Cimino, a recognized UNESCO heritage site.