‘How we were’ episode 4

The St John Festival in Ossuccio, on Lake Como

Here we are at the fourth appointment with the column ‘How we were’ and for the month of June the theme could only be the Festival of St John in Ossuccio. One of the most eagerly awaited event of the summer on Lake Como.

For those who don’t know it, it is one of the oldest and best-known events of the Lario, a unique event of its kind that, for two consecutive days, has been animating for decades, in the form in which we know it today, the village of Ossuccio, the neighbouring villages and the Comacina Island in front of it.

The weekend concerned is always the one closest to 24 June, the date on which the Christian feast of St John the Baptist falls, to whom the 17th-century church on the island is dedicated.

The St John’s Festival, much loved by the inhabitants of the lake, is both a commemoration of historical events (the destruction and burning of the Comacina Island in 1169) and a religious and folklore event. This small strip of land is strongly imbued with history, art and tradition, and the numerous events that normally take place every year between Saturday and Sunday at the end of June are intended to remember and celebrate this.

You may also like: Comacina Island, the only Island on Lake Como

This month’s photos recount some of the most significant moments of this event, between the 1980s and the early 2000s. Just another way to keep the tradition alive and dive for a moment, at least with the imagination, into the atmosphere of those days so lively, eventful and full of emotion!

Saturday

Saturday is the day of preparations, anticipation and the famous fireworks display at 10pm.

Over the years, the organisation and ways of experiencing this day have changed and had to adapt to the increasing influx of people. What has certainly remained unchanged is the festive atmosphere and the heartfelt participation of a large number of people for the success of the event!

Sunday

Sunday is instead the day dedicated to the Holy Mass on the Island, among the ruins of the ancient basilica of Sant’Eufemia, adjacent to the church of San Giovanni.

The Historical Parade is very suggestive, followed by the Solemn Procession, with the relics of the saint, which from the parish church of the village reach the island aboard comballi and lucie, famous and traditional boats of the lake.

For the occasion, you can see figures in period costumes and folk groups, accompanied by the band.

The final moment is the flag-wavers’ show, in Ossuccio or Sala Comacina in alternate years, and the race of the traditional boats on the stretch of water between the village of Ossuccio and Comacina Island.

In short, there is something for everyone and it is certainly an event not to be missed if you are on the lake on the weekend in which it is celebrated.

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Photos by Antonio Mascaro – All rights reserved