Apulia / Traditions, Religiosity, Folklore

Village festivals, fairs and local religious festivals occur every year in all cities and municipalities of Puglia.
The most significant manifestations of the popular tradition are:

The patronal feasts
They celebrate the patron saints carried in procession through the cities and recall their fellow citizens who emigrated to Northern Italy and abroad to the villages. The patronal festivals are a strong tourist attraction, thanks to the sumptuous lights that decorate the historic centers and squares, to the band groups engaged in traditional concerts of opera music, to the markets and to the numerous cultural events linked to popular traditions.

The bonfires
They are great fires, sometimes gigantic, spontaneously organized in the city districts. Characteristic and of strong tourist attraction are the bonfires of San Giuseppe, the bonfires of Santa Lucia and the Fòcara di Novoli (Lecce).

The living nativity scenes
They recall the events of the Nativity of Christ with costumed characters of the pastoral, peasant and artisan tradition. They are organized in many places in Puglia during the Christmas holidays. The best known are those of Deliceto (Foggia), Trani (BAT), Casamassima (Bari), Polignano a Mare (Bari), Monopoli (Bari), Oria (Brindisi), Ostuni (Brindisi), San Marzano di San Giuseppe (Taranto ) and Martina Franca (Taranto).

The Rites of Holy Week
They take place in all the cities of Puglia and recall the events of the Passion and death of Jesus Christ. Linked to centuries-old traditions, among the most evocative we remember: Holy Week in Taranto, characterized by the presence of ‘pardons’; the Procession of the Desolate in Canosa di Puglia, accompanied by the sad song of the women veiled in black; the Passion of Christ in Lizzano (Taranto) and Ginosa (Taranto).

The Carnival
Many cities have long-standing carnival traditions. The most famous Carnival celebrations are the Massafra Carnival, the Manfredonia Carnival, the Gallipoli Carnival.
The most famous Carnival in Puglia is the Putignano Carnival. It is one of the oldest and most popular Carnivals in Italy and, without a doubt, the oldest and most picturesque in southern Italy.
The Putignano carnival begins on December 26th and ends on Shrove Wednesday. Its characteristic mask is ‘Farinella’, the name of a delicious dish from Putignano.

The historical re-enactments
They offer parades, games and costumed tournaments in memory of medieval events. They take place in spring and summer and are a strong tourist attraction. The most famous re-enactments are the Challenge of Barletta (re-enactment of the historic tournament between Italian and French knights on February 13, 1503); 

the Palio of Taranto (regatta in medieval costume, in which rowing boats represent the districts of the city); the Tournament of the districts of Oria (Brindisi), inspired by Frederick II of Swabia; the Cavalcade of the Devotees of Ostuni (Brindisi); the Nzegna of Carovigno (Brindisi) with flag-waving competitions; the Scamiciata of Fasano (Brindisi), with the participation of flag-wavers accompanied by trumpets and drums; the Historical Parade of Lucera (Foggia), which commemorates the expulsion of the Saracens from the city; the Historical Parade of Torremaggiore (Foggia), which recalls the medieval foundation of the city; the Palio del Viccio in Palo del Colle (Bari), with knights armed with short spears, standing on galloping horses, competing to hit the target, a turkey skin bag full of water.

Photos (top to bottom)
– Procession of S. Nicola – Bari (photo taken from the Gallery of the basilicasannicola.it website)
– Focara di Novoli (LE) (Photo taken from the Gallery of the novoli.it site)
– Procession of forgiveness – Taranto (Photo by A. Cipriani)
– Carnival of Putignano (BA) – Winner float 2019 (photo taken from the site
carnevalediputignano.it)
– Challenge of Barletta (Photo taken from the puglia-events.it website of 01/09/2018)