In January, Abruzzo celebrates festivals dedicated to Saint Anthony the Abbot (Sant’Andònie), one of Abruzzo’s most beloved saints. These celebrations blend deeply rooted religious traditions with lively folk customs, offering a unique glimpse into the heart of Abruzzo’s culture. In this mini-guide, we’ll explore the best religious and folk festivals of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Abruzzo, highlighting the customs and traditions that make each one special.

Celebrated on January 17, the feast day of Saint Anthony combines deeply rooted religious traditions with lively folk rituals. These include liturgical services, blessing ceremonies, bonfires, and costumed street performances that bring mountain villages to life on the dark evenings of midwinter.
In popular culture, lu varvùte (the bearded one, as the saint is called in some areas of Abruzzo) is seen as an old saint who defeats evil not with miracles or grand deeds as many other Christian saints, but by literally beating it with a stick. Lu nnimiche de lu dimonie, the enemy of the demon, Sant’Antonio Abate represents the Good overcoming the Evil and life’s tribulations – sickness in men and animals, slander, and grudges.
Saint Anthony and the Animals
Though Saint Anthony’s historical view of animals is rooted in asceticism—he considered them temptations of the devil—popular tradition transformed him into the protector of domestic animals. This shift may trace back to the Antonian Order, which used pig fat to treat ergotism, a gangrenous disease, in the Middle Ages. Over time, Saint Anthony came to be associated with pigs, often depicted in his iconography with a small piglet at his feet.
In many Abruzzese villages, the connection to the pig evolved into a unique custom. A community piglet, identified by a bell around its neck or a clipped ear, roamed freely through the streets, sleeping where it pleased. No one dared steal the pig, as doing so would be considered a grave sin. After a year, the pig was raffled off, with proceeds funding the village’s celebration of the saint.
In the old days, at fairs, when a seller handed an animal over to a buyer, they would bless it in the name of Saint Anthony. If they forgot, the buyer would remind them with this exchange:
Seller: Sand’Andonije t’abbenidiche (May Saint Anthony bless you).
Buyer: E a signirì t’abbenidiche li quatrine (And may your money bless you).

Tentazioni di Sant’Antonio
One of the most popular traditions is the street performance of episodes from the Saint’s life and his perpetual fight with the Devil. This lively reenactment, typically held on or around 17 January, features the central character – Sant’Antonio Abate with a beard, dressed in a white tunic or a Franciscan habit with a bell. He is accompanied by two hermits, the Devil, dressed in fiery red robes with horns carrying a pitchfork, embodying temptation and mischief, and a temptress in feminine attire which adds humour to the scenes.
The performance moves through the streets, accompanied by a crowd of children and onlookers, stopping at homes to deliver blessings in songs and to narrate humorous, moral struggles between the saint and the devil. Musicians and singers accompany the procession, blending humour and spirituality in traditional verses that request food, wine and small gifts from the households they visit.
The verses of the songs (i canti di questua), of which countless versions exist in different villages, recount all the pranks the devil plays to test the saint and invoke the saint’s protection and blessings.
Where to see Tentazioni di Sant’Antonio
Pescara
On January 19 at 7pm, Museo delle Genti d’Abruzzo in Pescara hosts a lively performance of The Temptations of Sant’Antonio by the Laboratorio Tradizioni d’Abruzzo “Lu Ramajette.” This melodramatic play recounts the saint’s triumphant battle against the mischievous and cunning devil. The festivities will conclude with a tasting of local wines and cillitte, traditional jam-filled biscuits from Bisenti made for the Saint’s feast. See more details here.
Pratola Peligna (AQ)
On January 16, from 4:30 PM until late in the evening, a group of young parishioners from Arciconfraternita della Ss. Trinità will reenact the temptations of Sant’Antonio along the town’s streets. Simply show up and follow the sounds of laughter, singing, and music to find the festivities. The complete programme is available here.
Torrevecchia Teatina (CH)
CATA – Compagnia Tradizioni Teatine known for their thorough research of local folk traditions will be taking the Tentazioni di Sant’Antonio performance along the streets of Torrevecchia Teatina starting from Via Roma at 18.30pm. See the full itinerary on the event’s page.

The Ritual of Fire
Fire plays a symbolic role in the celebrations on the Feast of Sant’Andònie, with its roots in ancient solstice and solar rites. In many towns, large bonfires, known as focarazzi or farchie, are lit in front of homes or in central squares.
Where to see bonfires of Sant’Andònie
Fara Filiorum Petri (CH)
On January 16, the town of Fara Filiorum Petri gathers for the traditional lighting of massive bundles of reeds, known as farchie, which are carried in a procession from the districts to the square in front of the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate. According to local legend, the tradition stems from a miracle in 1799 when Sant’Antonio Abate appeared to the French soldiers disguised as a general, preventing them from invading the town. To commemorate this event, the villagers set ablaze 10-metre-tall bundles of reeds. This year, 16 farchie will be lit, along with a smaller farchia made by the local children. The farchie will be lit up at 5pm and the event will be streamed live on YouTube starting at 2pm from to show the installation of the bundles. The full programme is published on the event’s page.

Collelongo (AQ)
Starting on January 16, the cuttore (large pots) are set up on a town’s piazza to prepare cicerocchi, a dish of boiled corn kernels puffed up to resemble chickpeas. By extension, the term cuttore also refers to the homes where families open their ancient cantine to welcome and feed visitors, offering food prepared in the large cauldrons. These spaces are adorned with strings of oranges, baskets of eggs, juniper branches, dried fruit, and prominently feature a devotional painting of San’Antonio Abate surrounded by animals. In the evening, at 7pm, the town is lit by torcioni—large torches painstakingly crafted by the locals to bring light and warmth to the cold night. The full programme is published here and on the municipality’s Facebook page.
Pescocostanzo (AQ)
A bonfire for the Saint’s feast will be lit up bright and early on January 17 at 8am. At midday, the locals will bring their animals to the piazza in front of the main church. See the full programme on the municipality’s page.
Blessing of the animals
In the old days, on the feast day, farm animals were adorned with ribbons and bells and brought before the saint’s church to be blessed. Tradition held that during the night, Saint Anthony would visit every stable to ensure the animals were well-treated. Nowadays, farmers and pet owners alike bring their animals to local churches or town squares to receive a special blessing, believed to protect them from illness and misfortune throughout the year. La benedizione degli animali is held outside the church, although in some cities, small pets are allowed inside for the service. During the ceremony, the priest sprinkles holy water on all kinds of pets, including hamsters, parrots, fish, cats, and dogs. Even if you are not religious, this heartfelt tradition is worth witnessing. The sight of families and pet owners gathering with their beloved animals, united in a moment of gratitude and care, creates a uniquely moving atmosphere.
Where to see the blessing of the animals
Teramo
The Feast of Sant’Antonio Abate in Teramo is a cherished annual celebration draws many locals and visitors. The event begins at 11am with a religious service and culminates in the traditional blessing of animals, attracting families, farmers, and schoolchildren. Donkeys, ponies, goats, sheep, and beloved pets gather near Porta Melatina to receive the blessing. For more details see the organisers’ page.

Pianella (PE)
Another popular blessing will take place in Pianells (PE) in front of the Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate on January 19, at midday. More details on the parish’s page.
Roccamorice (PE)
A small but lively blessing ceremony will take place in Roccamorice beside the main church, Chiesa di San Donato (Corso Umberto I, 8). The full programme is published on the parish’s Facebook page. See a video of the blessing in Roccamorice on our page here.

Martinsicuro (TE)
On Sunday, January 19, Martinsicuro will host the return of the Feast of Sant’Antonio Abate. A hugely popular event in the 1980-90s, it has been revived after a long break. The celebration include food stalls along the main street starting at 10am with the traditional procession and animal blessing taking place in the afternoon. This year, in an effort to prioritize the well-being of the animals, there will be no fireworks at the end of the day. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the event will be rescheduled to January 26. Check the details here.
In this issue of ABRUZZISSIMO to learn about, La Panarda, a big feast dedicated to Sant’Antonio Abate that takes place in Villavallelonga
By David Ferrante and Anna Lebedeva
Featured photo by CATA – Compagnia Tradizioni Teatine – Cumbagnijǝ d’Ausanzǝ Cchijetinǝ