This winter festival is unique to Agnone, in alto Molise, which is believed to have originated as a Samnite festival of fire when the torches, or ‘ndocce’ were used during tribal shifts that usually took place at night, as s source of light. Later during Christian times, this tradition of burning torches continued as a festive way for the community…
This year the famous winter festival of the ‘Ndocciata was dedicated to San Giovanni Paolo II. This festival originated during Molise’s pre-christian Samnite era and is specific to the town of Agnone. The torches, or ‘ndocce’ were used during tribal shifts that usually took place at night, as s source of light. After the 9th Century, local farmers began to…
