Team Piccolo Camping
16-01-2023The Pesa Vegia: a magical Epiphany under the stars
The “Pesa Vegia” is a Christmas event with over 400 years of history behind it which every year, on January 5th, presents itself to its visitors between legend and magic in the village of Bellano, a few kilometers from Piccolo Camping.
The story dates back to around 1605, the year in which a proclamation was issued by the Governor Pedro Acevedo - Count of Fuentes - which restored the old units of measurement (the"Pesa Vegia", a dialectal expression that means "old weight").
The new units of measurement - the "pesa nova" - had caused disappointment in the traders of Bellano who considered them a real calamity for the commercial activities of the town. The Count of Fuentes accepted the pleas of the people of Bellano and headed a delegation to the village of Como to oppose the new reform.
The wait was lived with trepidation by the citizens of Bellano who, crouched around a bonfire, awaited the verdict which was "Pesa Vegia".
Among the general exultation, someone remembered that it was the eve of the Epiphany and with great joy they staged the representation of the Magi and, improvising a long procession, they walked through the streets of the town pausing to toast in the taverns and inns open throughout the night until dawn.
The people of Bellano have been celebrating this event every year for over 4 centuries!
Every year, as in a real theater under the stars, tourists from all over the world and citizens from all over Lake Como gather to celebrate the renowned Pesa Vegia with great participation and joy.
