Oh Bej! Oh Bej! Fiera di Sant'Ambrogio / The feast day of Milan's patron Saint
Winter festival celebrating the city's patron saint Sant'Ambrogio.
Oh Bej! Oh Bej! is the wondrous and joyful cry of children, and the name of Milan's top pre-Christmas event held on the 7th December. Taking place in the Piazza Sant'Ambrogio, the fair is held on the feast of the city's patron saint Sant'Ambrogio. It is one of Milan's oldest festivals dating back to a period of the city's great splendour between the 12th and 13th centuries. The occasion involves an enormous street market covering 2.5 km with over 400 stalls. Traditional local foods are for sale - pancakes, roast meats, chestnuts and vin brule as well as antiques, handicrafts and Christmas decorations. On this day, a silver statue of the saint, made by local artisans, is gifted to the city and exhibited in the Duomo cathedral. There is also a special morning service in the Sant' Ambrogio Basilica.
