On December 24th this year, in keeping with a beautiful Christmas tradition, the 'Ndocciata will light up the streets of Agnone, a beautiful town in the province of Isernia, Molise. As Turin-born writer Alfredo Cattabiani (1937-2003) wrote, "The 'Ndocciata in Agnone became famous on December 8th, 1996, when it was performed in Piazza San Pietro for the Pope."

"The 'ndocce are torches, up to four meter tall, made with spruce wood. They are tied tightly at the base, and then gradually flare out with dry Scotch broom branches inserted in them, in order to make them thicker and more flammable. They are joined in the shape of fans with boards or poles, always in even numbers so the load is balanced. Some 'ndocce have as many as eighteen elements."

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Source: http://www.italianways.com/