News
Italian snakes come out to play
31 March 2006
The first Thursday of May sees the inhabitants of the Italian town Cocullo celebrate their patron saint by covering his statue with gold and silver jewellery and live snakes.
Saint Domenico Abate is believed to protect the townsfolk from snakebites and the Serpari, or snake charmer, feast gives thanks and also provides omens for the coming year.
If the snakes wrap themselves around the statue's head it is thought to herald a good year.
The ritual is preceded by a procession through the town and in the past it culminated with the burning and eating of the snakes.
Fortunately today visitors are offered circular cakes instead of snakes, but there is the chance for the brave to hold the snakes before they are released into the wild.
Cocullo is in the central region of Abruzzo near the port Pescara, famed for its fish.
The region attracts many for its diverse landscape, from Europe's southernmost glacier to the forests of Abruzzo National Park, where bears and wolves roam along with the snakes.
© Adfero Ltd
Saint Domenico Abate is believed to protect the townsfolk from snakebites and the Serpari, or snake charmer, feast gives thanks and also provides omens for the coming year.
If the snakes wrap themselves around the statue's head it is thought to herald a good year.
The ritual is preceded by a procession through the town and in the past it culminated with the burning and eating of the snakes.
Fortunately today visitors are offered circular cakes instead of snakes, but there is the chance for the brave to hold the snakes before they are released into the wild.
Cocullo is in the central region of Abruzzo near the port Pescara, famed for its fish.
The region attracts many for its diverse landscape, from Europe's southernmost glacier to the forests of Abruzzo National Park, where bears and wolves roam along with the snakes.
© Adfero Ltd
