In May, the most anticipated celebration for the people of Bari: the three-day program for the feast of Saint Nicholas
Mark these dates because they will be the days that will remain most etched in your memory during your experience in Bari. We are talking about May 7, 8, and 9 , the three most anticipated days of the year for the people of Bari and beyond.
The feast of Saint Nicholas , the patron saint of the city of Bari, is celebrated at two different times of the year and, more importantly, in two different ways. December 6 , in fact, is the religious celebration where many people from Bari, Puglia, and pilgrims, especially from Russia, gather in the Basilica of Saint Nicholas to attend the historical parade and the lighting of the Christmas tree.
From 7 to 9 May , however, comes the actual feast of San Nicola , that is, the feast of the Patron Saint, in memory of the arrival in Bari of the relics of the Saint transported from Myra by 62 brave sailors (it was the year 1087).
During these days, in addition to the religious rite, a civil celebration , which involves the closure of a large area of the city centre of Bari to allow the passage of one of the longest and most important historical processions in Italy and to host the many, many Bari residents, pilgrims and tourists who literally crowd the streets of the centre and the seafront (morning and evening) to witness the celebrations, the fireworks and the performance of the National Acrobatic Team, also known as the Frecce Tricolori (the latter every two years) .
Having made this premise, let's discover together, analyzing in a little more detail, the program of the feast of San Nicola and the engaging festival of the people of Bari .
May 7: the painting and the historical procession
Tradition dictates that the painting of Saint Nicholas be carried from San Giorgio Bay (where the sailors arrived with the saint's remains) to Bari's old port, Molo San Nicola , by fishing boat.
After this symbolic journey, the painting is then delivered and transported for the historical procession, a reenactment commemorating the arrival Saint Nicholas' remains Bari, complete with a caravel, participants, and flag-wavers. The procession begins and ends in the old city, but most importantly, with the painting's delivery to the Basilica of Saint Nicholas . It goes without saying that thousands of people attended the ceremony.
May 8: Saint Nicholas Goes to Sea
On May 8th , the statue of Saint Nicholas is carried by sea, first through the alleys of old Bari and then out to sea near the capital on a fishing boat, which in turn carries the Saint aboard for the entire day.
The fishing boat is usually accompanied by numerous boats filled with devotees ready to honor the Saint. In the afternoon, if scheduled, the fantastic Frecce Tricolori (Tricolor Arrows) , which every two years paint the sky over Bari with the Italian flag (an unmissable sight) . The day concludes with the traditional fireworks display in honor of the Saint.
May 9: The relics and the celebration of the people of Bari
May 9th 
is the day of the Holy Manna, the liquid that oozes from the bones of the Saint, which is collected by the Rector of the Basilica and exposed to the faithful to renew the blessing of the people of Bari. This day is commonly called "of the Baresi" because the pilgrims who have arrived in Bari depart and the citizens once again witness the fireworks display that closes the beautiful feast of Saint Nicholas .
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