Festival of Molisian Roots "The Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel" in Acquaviva Collecroce

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Festival of Molisian Roots “The Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel” in Acquaviva Collecroce

Acquaviva Collecroce is one of the four towns where the community of Molisian Croats live, custodians of an ancient Slavic dialect originating in the Dalmatian hinterland dating back to the early 16th century and called “na-našu.“

Together with seven municipalities in Lower Molise, Acquaviva Collecroce, hosts the Festival of Molise Roots, sharing a calendar full of events and in particular the patronal feast of Saint Michael the Archangel that will take place on Sept. 29.

The traditional Fair held in the heart of the village ushers in the start of the festivities beginning Sept. 28, a day dedicated to families who can participate in games and shows for children. The day of the 29th opens with fireworks and the traditional band tour through all the streets of the village. This is followed by Holy Mass that ends with a procession in which the Holy Effigies of all the saints venerated in Acquaviva Collecroce are carried through the streets of the village.

In the afternoon at the main square there is the traditional “Auction of typical products,” a moment particularly awaited by the whole community who respond to the auction by buying in groups the products that at the end will be consumed in the square by all present in the charming atmosphere of the village enlivened by musical performances and food stands.

The latter tradition is deeply felt by Acquavivese around the world who, although unable to participate in person, try to do so by proxy and through social media, to make their own contribution to the festivity that allows the community’s traditions to be sustained and kept alive. The festivity concludes on September 30 with Holy Mass, a procession and in the afternoon the presence of exhibitions, food stands and the organization of workshops for adults and children that this year will be dedicated to the theme of Italian emigration in the newly established municipal museum.

An initiative that enriches the “Festival of Molisian Roots,” a unique opportunity to discover the very rich heritage of the municipality of Acquaviva Collecroce, which until the 18th cent. was a fief of the Sovereign Order of the Knights of Malta, whose symbols and documents it still preserves.

Lying on the northern ridge of a hill characterized by numerous olive groves and vineyards, crossed by the highways of yesteryear, the sheep-tracks, the town owes its name to its land rich in water and the presence of numerous springs and fountains, immersed in wild and lush vegetation. To visit Acquaviva Collecroce is to immerse oneself in a very special atmosphere, among the memory of the Slavic language and tradition, the chivalrous magic of the Middle Ages, the quiet of unspoiled nature, the authenticity of the food and the genuine hospitality of the locals.