St. John's Night

St. John's Night in Collepardo

Every year, on the night between June 23rd and 24th, the village of Collepardo, in the province of Frosinone, in the heart of the Ernici Mountains in Lazio, celebrates one of its most ancient and cherished traditions: St. John's Night. It is an event rooted in summer solstice rituals, when the shortest night of the year becomes an occasion for celebration, magic, and community.

A solstice ritual of fire and water

The celebration revolves around a large bonfire lit in the square in front of the famous Grotte dei Bambocci. Around the flames, arranged in a circle, participants gather to relive ancient atmospheres filled with stories, legends, music, and folk dances. Fire, a symbol of purification and renewal, and water, a regenerating element, are the protagonists of a night where the boundary between the sacred and the magical becomes thin.

Popular tradition places the "night of the spirits" on this very date, later shifted from June 21st to 23rd to coincide with the eve of the birth of St. John the Baptist: an example of syncretism between ancient pagan sun-related cults and the Christian feast.

St. John's dew and the baptism of the companion

Among the most anticipated moments is the preparation of the "St. John's dew", a fragrant water infused with freshly picked flowers, to which tradition attributes healing virtues. Central to the event is St. John's wort, the herb known as the "devil-chaser," woven into garlands and immersed in the spring near the cave.

The ritual culminates with the "baptism of the companion": with a bunch of flowers, each person "baptizes" their St. John's companion, sealing a bond of friendship that, according to custom, lasts a lifetime. The St. John's wort garlands are finally thrown into the flames to ward off evil and make way for the light of the coming season.

Music, taste, and community

The evening is not just a ritual but also a time for conviviality: food stalls offer specialties and typical products of the Ciociaria region, while live music accompanies the festivities until late at night. The event, with free admission, is organized by the Pro Loco of Collepardo together with local associations and is designed for both adults and children.

Collepardo and the Ernici Mountains

Immersed in a landscape of caves, forests, and ancient abbeys—from the Certosa di Trisulti to the Pozzo d'Antullo—Collepardo offers an ideal setting for this solstice festival. Experiencing St. John's Night means discovering a village that proudly guards its identity and legends, in one of the most authentic experiences of the Lazio summer.