Bread, a simple and universal food, becomes the protagonist of a unique tradition in Gildone, where on the Sunday following June 13, the day of St. Antonio of Padua, the Bread Festival is celebrated in honor of the saint. The event, deeply felt by the community, attracts numerous visitors due to its uniqueness and strong symbolic value.
The connection between St. Anthony and bread dates back to the miracle of little Tommasino, who was resurrected after drowning. The mother, out of gratitude, offered the poor as much wheat as her son’s weight. In Gildone, on the other hand, the tradition originated in the early 1900s, when a midwife from Rovigo, during the procession of the saint, had a small altar found with loaves of bread, which, blessed, were then distributed to the needy. Since then, the rite has been consolidated and is still widely attended.
Preparations begin at dawn with the processing of about 12 quintals of bread. Next, in the church of San Rocco, baskets destined for the procession are prepared, while in the historic center the “monacelli,” children wearing the typical habit of St. Anthony, are dressed. In mid-morning, the procession heading to the parish church departs, where mass is celebrated. After the service is over, around noon, women of all ages parade with baskets of bread adorned with colorful flowers, collected in the previous days and also used for the striking flower displays along the streets of the town.
The baskets, weighing between half a kilo and over ten, are carried by hand or, for the more experienced, on the head with the help of “spasette,” cloths twisted to cushion the weight. The procession passes through the village streets to the entrance of the village, where a moment of recollection takes place. The statues of the saints are turned toward the valley below, while fireworks break the silence and mark the resumption of the procession, which ends with the return to the church of San Rocco, accompanied by the band, for the delivery of bread..
The Gildone Bread Festival is more than a religious event; it’s a shared tradition where the community renews its devotion, blending faith, history, and culture. Visitors enjoy an immersive experience filled with the aroma of fresh bread, vibrant colors, and warm hospitality.