The Burning of the Old Woman
The ancient popular rite of the Bassa bresciana, featuring bonfires, processions, and music
About Burning of the Old Woman
An ancient rite of the Bassa
The Rogo della Vecchia is an ancestral rite of the Bassa bresciana, which is celebrated every year in Borgo San Giacomo (Province of Brescia). The tradition consists of the "trial" and subsequent burning of an effigy representing the "old woman", in a large bonfire that symbolizes the farewell to winter and the wish for prosperity for the coming season.
Bonfire, procession, and band
The event takes place in the evening at the village oratory: after the rite, the procession parades through the village streets accompanied by the music of the Banda Santa Cecilia, leading up to the climax of the bonfire. It is a festival with a strong visual impact and great identity value, capable of drawing young and old around the fire.
A tradition to cherish
In Borgo San Giacomo, the initiative has been founded and supported over the years by a group of parents, eager to introduce their children to a custom that risked being forgotten. For this reason, the Rogo della Vecchia is also an educational and community occasion, passing down the folklore and peasant culture of the Brescia area to new generations.
Burning of the Old Woman — edition 2026
The 2026 Rogo della Vecchia takes place on Thursday, March 12, from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM at the Oratorio San Domenico Savio in Borgo San Giacomo.
The rite, typical of the Bassa bresciana, culminates in the burning of the effigy representing the "old woman", a symbol of farewell to winter. The festival is accompanied by a procession through the village streets and band music, in an event that combines folklore, tradition, and community participation.
Programme Burning of the Old Woman 2026
Thursday, March 12, 2026 — Oratorio San Domenico Savio
- From 8:30 PM — Gathering at the oratory
- Procession through the village streets accompanied by the band
- Rite of the "trial of the old woman" and burning of the effigy
- Conclusion by 10:30 PM
Free admission. Info: +39 331 466881.
Highlights Burning of the Old Woman 2026
Prices Burning of the Old Woman 2026
Practical information — Burning of the Old Woman
When
Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM.
Where
Oratorio San Domenico Savio, via Ferrari 8b, Borgo San Giacomo (BS).
Admission
Free, open to all. Info: tel. +39 331 466881.
How to get there
Borgo San Giacomo is located in the Bassa bresciana, reachable by car from the provincial roads connecting Brescia to Orzinuovi and the Chiese area.
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Where does it take place — Burning of the Old Woman
Oratorio San Domenico Savio
Oratorio San Domenico Savio, Via Ferrari 8b, 25022 Borgo San Giacomo