San Marcellino Festival (Aprano)

The patronal feast of San Marcellino in Aprano

Every year, between late May and June, the village of Aprano, part of the municipality of Casaluce in the province of Caserta, gathers around its patron saint for the San Marcellino Festival. It is a deeply cherished event for the local community, drawing numerous faithful and citizens together in a spirit of faith, tradition, and togetherness. Devotion to Saint Marcellinus, priest and martyr, has accompanied the life of the village for centuries: the first known historical document regarding the festival dates back to 1897, though its origins are certainly much older.

The "Ballo del Santo", intangible heritage of Campania

The heart of the celebration is the procession featuring the characteristic "Ballo del Santo". The statue of Saint Marcellinus is carried on shoulders along the streets of Aprano and brought in front of every house in the village, symbolizing the martyr entering the heart of every citizen with his blessing. This tradition, passed down for several decades, was recognized in 2021 as an Intangible Heritage of the Campania Region, a testament to its cultural and identity value for the entire territory.

The Church of San Marcellino in Aprano

The focal point of the festivities is the parish Church of San Marcellino in Aprano, a building dating back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The parish preserves records dating back to 1634, and its history is rooted in an ancient Roman-era hamlet. The interior, designed in a Latin cross layout, houses three exquisite marble altars. Since 2015, the church has also housed a precious relic of Saint Marcellinus, placed in a gilded metal reliquary and donated to the community during solemn festivities.

Religious rites and festive moments

The program combines spiritual and popular dimensions: Eucharistic celebrations, moments of prayer, and the solemn procession alternate with performances, music, and family-friendly activities that enliven the village evenings. The festival is organized by the Festival Committee in collaboration with the parish community, with the involvement of many volunteers who make the event possible each year.

Aprano and the Casaluce area

The village of Aprano is among the oldest places in Casaluce: as early as 964, according to the Chronicon Vulturnense, Capuan princes mentioned the "Homines de Apranu" in what is the oldest known written document regarding the territory. Visiting the San Marcellino Festival means immersing yourself in an authentic tradition of the Agro Aversano, in the province of Caserta, where popular devotion intertwines with the thousand-year history of Campania.