2011-05-05
Feast of the Snake Catchers
Cocullo, a small cluster of houses high in the Abruzzan hills, honours its patron Saint Domenico in a somewhat unusual manner. After a church service, the serpari (snake catchers) drape his statue with live snakes and other reptiles.
Where the snakes go is crucial: if they twist around the head of the
statue, it is a good sign, if they slither towards the statue's arms,
the interpretation gets rather more free. The braver visitor can even
have a picture taken with snakes draped around his head and neck.
Saint
Domenico is said to protect Cocullo's inhabitants from snakebites and
toothache. Up until 1940 the snakes were then burnt in a rather gruesome
pyre set up outside the village church, but these days they are merely
set free in nearby fields.
When: 5 May 2011
Where: Cocullo, Italy
From: whatsonwhen.com
last modification: 2011-04-13
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