Town fests are gatherings that keep community traditions alive

In the past, the feast of the patron Saint, the procession to the upper mountain sanctuary, the celebration of the grape harvest or the harvest festival were rare opportunities to celebrate in a life entirely dedicated to work.

Of the patron festivals, that each parish and many village chapels celebrate on the anniversary, special mention goes to that of Saint Gratus, patron Saint of Aosta and of the entire diocese. It is celebrated in Aosta on 7 September. The most solemn part of the feast is the procession that carries the Saint's treasures through the streets of the town centre, protected in the precious Mediaeval relic box.

More spontaneous are the initiatives to celebrate special dates with firework displays: one in particular, on 29 June, the anniversary of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, wheneager participants head for the main peaks of the Valle d'Aosta to light up the ritual fire before, obviously, spending the night on the summit. The festival of Saint John on 24 June also holds a certain importance, especially in Cogne and in Gressoney-Saint-Jean, where toasts and traditional snacks known as spisie accompany the fireworks.