Depending on the budget and tradition, patronal festivals may typically run from one day to one week, though some festivals may exceed that length. The festivities usually include religious processions honoring its
Catholic heritage. However, elements of local culture have been incorporated as well. Usually, town members adorn the town streets with colorful decorations and other things. Most patronal festivals feature traditional
fairs known as
verbenas (, plural:
sagre), possibly including elements typical of the
travelling carnivals. They feature parades, artisans, street vendors, regional food stands,
amusement rides,
games, and live entertainment, among other things. There are usually
alcoholic beverages –
wine and
beer – and music and dancing, either organized or spontaneously; in
Southern Italy and
Argentina, for example, folk dances known as
tarantellas are very common.
In Europe Austria and Germany France Italy The Italian national
patronal day, on 4 October, celebrates
Saints Francis and Catherine. Each city or town also celebrates a public holiday on the occasion of the festival of the local patron saint, for example:
Rome on 29 June (
Saints Peter and Paul),
Milan on 7 December (
Saint Ambrose),
Naples on 19 September (
Saint Januarius),
Venice on 25 April (
Saint Mark the Evangelist) and
Florence on 24 June (
Saint John the Baptist). Notable traditional patronal festivals in Italy are the
Feast of Saints Francis and Catherine, the
Festival of Saint Agatha, the
Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the
Feast of San Gennaro and the
Feast of Our Lady of the Hens. ;Examples •
Feast of Our Lady of the Hens on the
Second Sunday of Easter in
Pagani, Campania •
Feast of Saints Francis and Catherine •
Feast of San Gennaro Spain ;Examples •
Fiestas del Pilar around 12 October in
Zaragoza •
La Mercè around 24 September in
Barcelona •
Fallas, with main events from 15 until 19 March (Saint Joseph's day), but including pyrotechnic spectacles every day from 1 to 19 March •
Bonfires of Saint John around 24 June in
Alicante •
Festival of San Fermín around 7 July in
Pamplona, actually spanning from 6 July to 14 July •
San Isidro Labrador around 15 May in rural areas mostly in
Extremadura and
Andalusia, but also in
Madrid.
Wales In Latin America Puerto Rico Most
Latin American countries dedicate the first day to the saint or virgin being celebrated, the others to entertainment, but in the
US territory of
Puerto Rico the musical and entertainment festivities begin right away.
In Asia Philippines ,
Philippines. Note the lead performer holding a figurine of , the patron saint of the town. In addition to major secular festivals and national religious holidays, nearly every city, town, and
barangay in the
Philippines, regardless of size, has an annual
Catholic patronal festival known as a
fiesta (). Many of which date back to the
Spanish colonial period. A
fiesta celebrates the patron saint of the community and commonly features a
Catholic mass, communal feasts,
traveling carnivals, fairs, parades, competitions, outdoor dancing, and other events. Locals would open their houses and offer meals, even to strangers. The streets are also typically decked with colorful and other decorations. == Further examples ==