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The popular legend says that a local plague in 1436 brought death and desolation among men and animals in town. The desperate people asked grace to Saint Vittore, with the promise of organizing a run of the slower animals, the oxen, as a sign of joy and gratitude. The Holy man heard these prayers and the plague ceased. The earliest historical docum...

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A huge explosion detonated on April 16, Easter Sunday, in front of the magnificent green and white-marbled neogothic church in Florence's centro storico. Instead of running in fear from a terrorist's bomb, though, thousands of spectators will cheer the noise and smoke, for they will be witnesses to the annual Scoppio del Carro—explosion of the cart...

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On the Sunday after Easter, Sunday “in albis”, takes place in the Marche small village of Fermignano the "Palio della Rana" (A Palio is a traditional contest between the neighborhoods of the town). The seven districts of Fermignano compete in the race, pushing a wheelbarrow on which is located a frog. A truly unique race, recognized by the Federazi...

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Apulia is the Italian region with the most Carnival celebrations: from Massafra to Gallipoli, from Dauno to Manfredonia and beyond to Poggio Imperiale, the season sees a continual succession of processions and masquerade balls. Particular mention goes to the Carnival of Putignano, a town in the Province of Bari; standing on the Murge Plateau, it is...

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Famous in all of Italy and, above all abroad is the Carnival in the Piedmontese town of Ivrea (Province of Turin). Established in 1808, the Carnival of Ivrea is one of the oldest and most particular festivals in the world.

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With every new start to the Christmas season, the shopping race takes off, and the Italian streets are filled with exquisitely festive colors and light. Shop windows are decorated to attract the eye, while most cities also host their own Christmas markets, where you can purchase typical products and, most of all, presents and almost anything to do...

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  WTI Magazine #57    2015 April, 3Author : Italia.it      Translation by:   A visit to Italy during the Easter holidays is an experience of a lifetime: from north to south, cities and towns throughout the Peninsula are celebrating during this time, with processions, religious rites, holy representations, sagre or food fairs, and folkloristic tr...

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  WTI Magazine #40    2014 July, 23Author : folclore.it      Translation by:   Located on the Via Francigena, a place of transit for travelers and pilgrims headed to Santiago de Compostela, the community of Alpignano chose probably since the High Middle Ages Saint Giacomo Maggiore as its patron saint, dedicating to him the old little chapel once...

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  WTI Magazine #78    2016 April 15Author : folclore.it      Translation by:   The Carrese of San Martino in Pensilis is among the dearest events to the population of Molise. A poet from San Martino has described it as an "archaic collective prayer in honor of St. Leo": a race of ox carts, each led by three men and "pushed" by riders behind and...

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  WTI Magazine #29    2014 May, 8Author : folclore.it      Translation by:   One of the most beautiful celebrations of Ortona, in the Abruzzo coast, is the Feast of the Pardon of St. Thomas the Apostle, which takes place on the first Sunday in May.    

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