A Year of Celebration and Traditions in Vazzano, Calabria
- Emily Fata
- May 9
- 7 min read
Discover the rich traditions in Vazzano, Calabria, where vibrant celebrations and age-old customs bring this charming town to life all year round.
If you’ve ever dreamt of being wrapped in the warmth of an old-world Italian village where age-old traditions are lived, not just remembered, then let me introduce you to Vazzano, Calabria. This quiet hilltop town in southern Italy may not make the pages of glossy travel magazines, but don’t let its modest size fool you. Vazzano is big in heart, history, and local flair.
I should know, I’ve had the immense joy (and occasional food coma) of experiencing it all firsthand.
The traditions in Vazzano aren’t just events on a calendar; they’re vibrant, interwoven threads of a tight-knit community where life moves to the rhythm of heritage, faith, and family. Here’s a peek into the town’s cultural heartbeat throughout the year, because in Vazzano, there’s always something to celebrate.
Kicking Off with Fireworks and Red Underwear: Traditions in Vazzano on New Year’s Eve
In many parts of the world, New Year’s Eve is marked by glittering parties and clinking champagne flutes, but in Vazzano, it’s so much more than that—it’s deeply symbolic, quirky, and undeniably Italian.
Known locally as La Notte di San Silvestro, New Year’s Eve in Vazzano is a feast for the senses and the soul. The evening usually starts with a hearty dinner featuring lentils (for luck and wealth) and, yes, everyone’s wearing red underwear under their clothes.
No, really. It's a tradition believed to bring prosperity and fertility, and while it's mostly a secret underlayer, just know that even nonne may be in on this one.
This past year, I rang in the new year with my cousins under a sky lit up by fireworks. The pièce de résistance? The burning of a giant effigy meant to symbolize all the misfortunes of the past year. This year’s had Putin’s face on it (subtlety isn’t exactly a Vazzanese forte, but it isn’t mine, either), and it was torched with glorious gusto. The first few days of January were blissfully slow, with card games every evening and eating more panettone than I care to admit. If there’s a better way to welcome the new year, I haven’t found it.
Socks, Sweets, and a Witch on a Broom: Epiphany in Vazzano
Just when you think the holiday season has wound down, Italy throws one more tradition into the holiday mix. L’Epifania, celebrated on January 6th, marks the arrival of the Three Wise Men, but in Vazzano, it's La Befana who steals the show.
La Befana is Italy’s beloved Christmas witch who travels by broomstick, leaving sweets for good children and coal (usually the candy kind) for the naughty ones. The night before, on January 5th, children hang up their stockings in anticipation. Trust me, even adults secretly hope for a little Befana magic.
When my cousin Vittoria came to Canada years ago, she brought this tradition with us at my nonna’s house, and it was as cute as it sounds: stockings filled with candies, oranges, and coins. However, experiencing it in Vazzano this year was even more magical.
I woke up to find that La Befana had left me a pair of pantyhose, which I guess means I was mostly good?
A Spiritual Marathon: Easter Weekend Traditions
Easter in Vazzano is not just a day—it’s an entire spiritual event, filled with rituals that honour the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ. The festivities begin on Holy Thursday, when locals attend mass for the blessing of bread and food. On Good Friday, another solemn service follows. By the time Saturday night rolls around, the church service kicks off at 10 p.m. and goes well past midnight, though I’ll admit, I tapped out of that one. The weight of Catholic guilt can never outweigh my exhaustion.
On Easter Sunday, we headed into Vibo Valentia to witness ’A Cunfrunta (literally ‘the confrontation’), a symbolic event. Three statues—Christ, St. John, and the Virgin Mary—are brought out. St. John ‘runs’ back and forth to Mary three times before she rushes to embrace Christ. It’s a powerful enactment of the resurrection that had everyone intrigued.
Next comes the feast; Easter Sunday dinner was a family affair, full of laughter and pasta and good conversation. Easter Monday, or Pasquetta, was for friends; we explored the quaint town of Badolato and strolled along the beach in Davoli, ending the day with pizza near Serra San Bruno.
The Summer Staple: Sagra dei Pipi e Patati
If there’s one way to a Calabrian’s heart, it’s through their stomach, and nothing proves this more than the Sagra dei Pipi e Patati. This vibrant summer food festival, organized by the ever-dedicated Vazzano Pro Loco, is all about celebrating the humble yet divine combination of fried peppers and potatoes. Seriously, it’s one of the best flavour combinations ever (and I often make it for myself when I’m away from Calabria and missing Vazzano).
For the past two years, I’ve volunteered with my cousin, and we helped serve over 700 people. My biceps would have had a serious workout from ladling portions if I wasn’t snacking on everything the entire night, but this is what happens when you put us on French fry duty.
Nonetheless, the entire town is buzzing during this night. After the eating comes the dancing, with local ethnofolk band Amakorà stealing the show. You haven't truly lived if you've never heard traditional Calabrian music under the stars while digesting an ungodly amount of pipi e patati.
Honouring a Saint: Festa di San Francesco
Every August, Vazzano comes alive with the Festa di San Francesco, a multi-day celebration dedicated to Saint Francis of Paola, Calabria’s patron saint—and apparently a vegan centuries ahead of his time. (Meanwhile, I still struggle with giving up cheese and honey.)
Though Saint Francis’ actual feast day is in May, Vazzano celebrates him in late August, turning the town into a swirl of faith, history, and good vibes. The weekend kicks off with a smaller procession from the chiesola to the main church. The faithful don black robes modelled after the saint’s own attire.
Pro tip: Only wear underwear beneath them or risk sweating out your soul. Speaking from experience.
Saturday is more relaxed, with vendors, children’s rides, and live music in the piazza. On Sunday, the grand procession winds through nearly every street, allowing residents to see the saint pass their windows. The statue is taken all the way to the cloister and back, followed by a spectacular fireworks show. Monday closes things out with a town-wide auction of food and gifts, including Mostaccioli cookies shaped like people or desired items—because even saints deserve some sweetness.
San Rocco: A Moved (and Moving) Tradition
Although Saint Rocco’s feast day is typically August 16, Vazzano celebrates it in October due to a tragic event back in the 1800s when a man was shot during the summer festa. In true Vazzanese fashion, the townspeople decided to shift the celebration and carry on with heartfelt reverence.
Held on the third Sunday of October, San Rocco’s celebration is more intimate than that of San Francesco. There's a mass and a modest procession, and the saint is paraded through town in gratitude for protection from plagues and illness, especially resonant in the post-pandemic world.
Shoes, Letters, and Old-Fashioned Wonder: San Nicola
December 6th brings La Festa di San Nicola, a celebration especially close to children's hearts. On the night before, kids leave out shoes or stockings, along with notes for the saint, a little treat for his donkey (or reindeer, depending on the household), and a drink to wash it all down.
In the morning, they wake to find small gifts, like mandarins or even little toys. Think of it as a less commercial, more heartwarming version of Christmas. Families often come together for a meal, and of course, there's mass to mark the day. It’s one of those quieter traditions that remind you of the magic of simple joy.
Christmas Eve and Day: A Food-Lover’s Dream
Of course, then there’s the Italian Christmas traditions, where culinary excellence reaches its annual peak. On La Vigilia, Christmas Eve, it’s customary to have a seafood feast: seven different kinds, in fact. Fried, baked, stewed—any way you can imagine it. This tradition stems from the Catholic practice of abstaining from meat, though judging by the decadence of the dishes, you wouldn’t call it a sacrifice.
Christmas Day is an event in itself. Our family meal stretched over several hours and included a buffet of pasta, roasted meats, stuffed vegetables, and yes, enough dessert to keep a dentist awake at night. If you’re lucky (and vegetarian like me), your family will prepare delicious alternatives like pasta with peas and cheese, fried zucchini, and more.
Plus, don’t even get me started on the panettone and pandoro. These sweet, pillowy cakes are as omnipresent as holiday cheer and make every breakfast feel like a celebration. By the end of the season, you’re more dough than human, and you’re perfectly okay with it.
All in All
The traditions in Vazzano aren’t manufactured for tourists or preserved under glass; they’re real, living customs passed down through generations and worn proudly by the people who call this place home. Whether you’re dancing under the stars at a sagra, walking in a sacred procession, or eating your body weight in panettone, Vazzano welcomes you like family.
So, if your idea of travel includes immersing yourself in culture, connecting with locals, and experiencing life as it’s truly lived, come to Vazzano. Bring your curiosity, your appetite, and maybe a pair of red underwear for good luck. This charming town in the heart of Calabria has a celebration waiting just for you.
Come visit! Vazzano is waiting for you! 🥰
A great article about time honored traditions that travelers wouldn't otherwise know about. Without knowing a local I would never have heard about these fun things and unique traditions families and kids have.
Amazing. I love the way you put it "age-old traditions are lived, not just remembered". How long did you spend there all up? What an enriching life experience. Attending all these festivals & that you even volunteered for the festival with the peppers and potatoes. The whole town there - an unforgettable experience.
Wow, I've never heard of Vazzano before, but it sounds like a great place to visit. I love immersing in culture when I travel, so this would be perfect!
I appreciate the depth you've gone into. After reading this article, I feel more knowledgeable about Italy and its distinct traditions.