The Burning of the Giubiana

A Tradition That Burns Away Winter

The Burning of the Giubiana is one of the most cherished folk traditions in Brianza, and in Mariano Comense (Province of Como), it is renewed every year on the last Thursday of January. The Giubiana is a large effigy, representing an old witch: burning it symbolically means driving away winter, fears, and bad omens, heralding the arrival of spring.

The Procession and the Burning

The evening begins with a gathering at Villa Sormani, where you can enjoy risotto with luganega sausage, mulled wine, and hot tea. After dinner, the procession begins, accompanying the effigy to the Parco dei Vivai (Vivai Park), where the Giubiana is set ablaze amidst the warmth of the crowd and the atmosphere of tradition.

A Community Celebration

Organized by the Pro Loco of Mariano Comense, the Burning of the Giubiana is an intergenerational festival that brings together families, children, and the elderly around an ancient ritual. It is a way to keep alive a shared memory and to gather together during the coldest season of the year.

Brianza and Its Fire Rituals

The propitiatory bonfires at the end of January are common throughout Brianza and Northern Italy, with different names and variations. In Mariano Comense, the Giubiana retains its symbolic power: an event that connects the present to the region's peasant culture and that each year draws the community together around the fire.