“La Faglia di Oratino” is an ancient Christmas tradition held in the village renowned for its stonecutters. The ritual centres on the carrying and lighting of an enormous bundle of reeds, approximately 13 metres long and one metre in diameter, which burns through the night on Christmas Eve.
Preparations begin several weeks beforehand with the collection of reeds along the Biferno River. The Faglia is assembled in a courtyard at the entrance to the village, where volunteers work on it throughout December. The driest reeds are placed in the centre to help the structure burn, while fresher reeds form the outer layer. The bundle is then secured with 26-28 hoops made from flexible manna ash wood. The ‘battitori’ compact it further by striking it with wooden paddles known locally as ‘partiell’.
On the afternoon of Christmas Eve, the Faglia is raised and carried on the shoulders of around fifty bearers along a steep, winding route led by the ‘capo-Faglia’. Songs, toasts and traditional music accompany the difficult ascent to the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo, the highest point in the village. The final section at Porta del Colle is particularly demanding and requires a carefully coordinated manoeuvre.
Once it reaches the church, the Faglia is hoisted into a vertical position using ropes secured to the bell tower and nearby buildings. After the parish priest’s blessing, it is lit at the top, illuminating the night. Alongside its Christian association with the birth of Jesus, the ritual is also linked to older winter-solstice and solar traditions. According to local belief, the way the Faglia burns can also provide omens about the agricultural and social fortunes of the community in the year ahead.
The tradition involves the whole community, strengthening a shared sense of belonging and passing an ancient ritual on to new generations.