San Rocco Festival and Ciambelle Festival

A centuries-old devotion in the heart of Ciociaria

In Supino, a village in the province of Frosinone nestled on the slopes of the Lepini Mountains, the first weekend of September has belonged to San Rocco for generations. The festival, one of the most heartfelt in the Supino calendar, combines the solemnity of the religious procession with the conviviality of a village fair, following a model that still retains all its authenticity in Ciociaria. The heart of the celebrations is the small church dedicated to Saints Sebastian and Rocco, rebuilt in 1913 on a building that had previously served as a lazaretto: a direct link to the cult of San Rocco, invoked for centuries as a protector against epidemics.

The procession of the incollatori

The most evocative moment of the festival is the evening procession, which takes place over two consecutive nights. The statue of the Saint is carried on the shoulders of the incollatori, the bearers who pass down the honor and the toil of leading it through the streets of the historic center, lit by small lanterns and flares. The procession visits the town's main churches: from San Sebastiano, it reaches the church of San Pietro, continues towards San Nicola and Santa Maria Maggiore, and then returns to the starting point amidst prayers, songs, and the moving participation of the entire community.

The ciambelle of San Rocco

What makes the Supino festival unique is the role of the ciambelle, the typical anise-flavored pastries of the local tradition. Devout followers adorn the Saint's statue with actual wreaths of ciambelle: a chain is placed between his hands and a ciambella, according to popular iconography, even in the mouth of the dog crouching at his feet. Along the procession route, the ciambelle are collected and blessed; tradition dictates that they are distributed to the incollatori and participants at the end, and many keep a small piece to bring to those who stayed at home as a sign of protection.

The Ciambelle and Wine Festival

Once the final procession concludes, the religious celebration gives way to the Ciambelle and Wine Festival: near the church, visitors can taste the blessed ciambelle accompanied by local wine and typical products of the Lepini territory. It is the most convivial moment of the event, which traditionally closes with a fireworks display over the village rooftops.

In the calendar of the Municipality of Supino

The festival is organized by the Amici di S. Rocco Neighborhood Committee with the support of the community and is part of the rich calendar of events promoted by the Municipality of Supino, which enlivens the town between summer and early autumn with food festivals, patronal feasts, and cultural appointments. For the Lazio Region and the province of Frosinone, it is one of the most genuine testimonies of Lepini popular religiosity, capable of attracting visitors from neighboring towns and emigrants returning for the occasion every year.