Fogheraccia

Fogheraccia di San Giuseppe
Also called
  • Focarina di San Giuseppe
  • Fugaràza 'd San Jusèf
  • Fugaréna 'd San Jusèf
Observed by
TypeCultural and agricultural
SignificanceCelebrating Saint Joseph's Day and the March equinox
CelebrationsBonfires, concerts
Date18 April
Next time18 April 2025 (2025-04-18)
FrequencyAnnual
Related toSaint Joseph's Day

The Fogheraccia di San Giuseppe (Romagnol: fugaràza 'd San Jusèf, also fugaréna, fugaràcia, or fugaròina), also known as the Focarina,[1] is an annual public bonfire lit on the evening of 18 March, the vigil of Saint Joseph's Day, in the historical region of Romagna, northern Italy,[2] and San Marino.[3]

The tradition is believed to be of Roman or Celtic origin.[1][4] The bonfires, which are accompanied by music and food stands,[5][4] are especially popular in Rimini,[2] where they extend the length of the city's coastal conurbation from Cattolica to Cesenatico.[1] Inland, the bonfires are sometimes anticipated in the similar tradition of Lòm a Merz (transl. Lights of March),[4][6] held between late February and early March.[6][7]

  1. ^ a b c "Fogheraccia 2023, dove andare in Romagna per i falò di San Giuseppe" [Fogheraccia 2023: Where to go in Romagna for the bonfires of St Joseph]. Il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). 15 March 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b "18 marzo – La fugaràza 'd San Jusèf" [18 March – St Joseph's bonfire]. Chiamami Città (in Italian). 18 March 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Fogheraccia 2024: dove andare a San Marino per i falò di San Giuseppe" [Fogheraccia 2024: Where to go in San Marino for St Joseph's bonfires]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). 18 March 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Lazzari, Martina (17 March 2024). "Fogheraccia: origine del falò che "incendia" la notte di San Giuseppe" [Fogheraccia: Origin of the bonfire that "alights" St Joseph's night]. RiminiToday (in Italian). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Le fogheracce". Rimini Turismo (in Italian). 18 March 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b Bezzi, Roberta (22 February 2024). "Lòm a Mêrz, da lunedì si accendono i fuochi" [Lòm a Merz: An ancient peasant tradition between bonfires and music]. Il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  7. ^ Gambetti, Nicola (28 June 2023). "Alle radici della "Fogheraccia"" [At the roots of the "Fogheraccia"]. Rimini Sparita APS (in Italian). Retrieved 8 April 2024.