Festivals

Italians love to celebrate and Calabria is no exception. Festivals in Calabria are a famous tradition and are handed over to every new generation.

The following traditional festivals are celebrated in Calabria:

• Arbesh: A festival with greek-byzantine dances and traditional costumes. Celebrated in "Santa Sofia d´Epiro" on Pentecost Day.

• Grecanico: A festival that is celebrated between June and July by the orthodox population of Bova.

• lots of different Sagre: "Sagres" are folk festivals, harvest homes, festivals for products like the sword fish. These festivals are celebrated in june on Costa Viola.

• Fiera dei 100 comuni: An interesting fairy, which gives insights into 100 locations and their culinary finesses and folklore. This fairy takes place in June in locations that change annually.

• Carnevale del Pollino: This means entertainment in Castrovillari with processions, masses, street performers, and gastronomic presentations.

Catholic Festivals

• The most important festivals are the ones that are celebrated for a patron saint. These take place several times a year.

• A lovely religious festival in Palmi is the sea procession of the Madonna on August 15.

• Varia also takes place in Palmi but not every year. Varia is the name for a procession in honour of Virgin Mary. In former times some young girls were carried through the streets on decorated sugar loaves made of paper-maché. On top of these sugar loaves was the animella, which was the symbol for the Madonna. For safety reasons  these were replaced by dolls.

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