Il Pignarûl è un alto ammasso di legna e fieno che per tradizione viene acceso la sera del 5 o molto più frequentemente quella del 6 gennaio in alcune zone della nostra regione.
Pignarul The *Pignarûl* is a tall pile of wood and hay that is traditionally set ablaze on the evening of January 5th—or, much more frequently, January 6th—in certain areas of our region. The direction taken by the smoke holds special significance. An old Friulian proverb goes: *se il fum al va a soreli a mont, cjape il sac e va pal mont; se il fum invezit al va de bande di soreli jevât, cjape il sac e va al marcjât*. Translated, this means: if the smoke drifts westward, take your sack and travel the world; if, however, it drifts eastward, take your sack and go to the market. Thus, the direction of the smoke serves as an omen of a good or bad year. With the arrival of the new year and the approach of Epiphany, the *Pignarûl* stands out among the various ancient Friulian customs as a ritual seemingly linked to the worship of Belanu, a Proto-Celtic deity of light. Worshipped by the Celts, this deity was known for his influence on sunlight and, consequently, on the seasons, temperatures, and human activities dependent on the seasons—such as agriculture and livestock farming. In ancient times, the cult of Belanu was part of the religious life of the Carni people; it was a particularly strong tradition in Aquileia, where a temple was dedicated to him. The tradition of lighting fires during festivals linked to equinoxes and solstices is directly connected to the worship of Belanu. The significance of these "Friulian fires" is, therefore, to be found in ancient Celtic rites of propitiation and purification. In many cases, the ashes were then scattered across the fields to ward off curses and, conversely, to ensure abundant harvests. Fire was considered a symbol of purification and rebirth into a new life.
With the arrival of the new year and the approach of Epiphany, the *Pignarûl* stands out among the various and most ancient Friulian rites; it is a ritual that appears to be linked to the worship of Belanu, a Proto-Celtic deity of light.
Revered by the Celts, this deity was known for his influence on sunlight and, consequently, on the seasons, temperatures, and all human activities linked to the seasons—such as agriculture and animal husbandry. In ancient times, the cult of Belanu was part of the religious life of the Carni people; it was a particularly strong devotion in Aquileia, where a temple was dedicated to him.
The tradition of lighting fires during festivals linked to equinoxes and solstices is directly connected to the worship of Belanu. The significance of the "Friulian fires" is, therefore, to be found in ancient Celtic rites of propitiation and purification. In many instances, the ashes were subsequently scattered across the fields to ward off curses and, conversely, to ensure abundant harvests. Fire was regarded as a symbol of purification and rebirth into new life.