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*** REPORTAGE *** _________________ The "Serpari" of Cocullo (AQ) - St. Dominic's day |
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Every year, the first Thursday of May, in Cocullo (AQ) they celebrate St. Dominic's day. He is the Saint Patron of the village, he protects against anger, snakebites, and toothache. It is probably the best-known religious and folkloristic event in Abruzzo. There are few places in the world where they look for and appreciate snakes, usually cause of loathing and fear, more than in Cocullo. The "serpari" have familiarity with the snakes and, at the end of the cold season, they go on mountains searching for “biacchi”, “bisce dal collare”, “cervoni” and “saettoni”. These snake species are not poisonous and they are kept in wooden containers until the day of the celebration. The morning of the first Thursday of May, many worshippers go to the village church to give homage to the relics of the Saint. At the end of the Mass, the "serpari", wrapped in reptiles, begin the procession with the statue of the Saint along the streets of the small town. The statue is covered with living snakes, previously captured, and with jewels brought by emigrants that come back to the village for the celebration. Clergymen and girls dressed in traditional costumes and carrying baskets with the "ciambelloni", large ring-shaped cakes with candies, take also part in the procession. Depending on the behavior of the snakes, they see omens for the following year: snakes coiled around the statue’s head are a good sign, while the forecast is negative if the snakes make go to the arms. St. Domenic Abbot lived between century X and XI. He was born in Foligno (PG) in Umbria. According to the tradition, he began his activity as pilgrim and preacher, performing miracles, in the center of Italy. He died on January 22 of the year 1031 and he was buried in Sora. |
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| The "Serpari" of Cocullo (AQ) St. Dominic's day |
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