Lighting Fires of St. Joseph's day is an ancient Propitatory ritual coming from a long time ago. At the end of the winter sawing stops and agricultural activity regards fruit harvesting. Lighting ritual fires symbolizes the Death of the Plant; it burns and becomes ash comes back to Mother Earth and springs up again.

Springtime is nearly coming and the plant will produce new shoots. Saint Joseph, Mary's husband, always leans on a stick, or rather on a cutted branch from which shoots and flowers spront, symbolizing the revival of the earth.

The Christian Religion, replacing to pagan believes, elected the Saint as Patron of carpenters and carpenters himself.

According to the tradition, in spring carpenters clean their shop and take out the discarted wood. This event is a playful moment for childrens and a joyful chance for carpenters, for bigger piles of wood mean a lot of work done, and bigger fires to light.

Nowadays this tradition can go on thanks to the efforts of the Municipal Administration, the Forest Guard, ProLoco and Civic Commitees. They provide wood to burn avoiding damages to the beautiful Forests of our Area.

Around the Fires people play, dance, eat and drink wine till late in the night. Visitors, Tourists, Curious and all the Lovers of Folk Tradition will be welcomed by Southern Italy  folk music and traditionals foodstuffs products.

Saint Joseph's day and its Fires In Itri is becoming more and more an important meeting among the Traditional/Devotional Feasts that people can't miss. 

 

Pasquale Valentino