Kokullo Snake Festival is held May 1 in Italy in honor of the feast of St. Domenico. This is not only one of the strangest events in the country, but also one of the most multicultural. The holiday has an ancient origin associated with the veneration of the pagan goddess Anghizia. The festival of snakes attracts people from all over the world to the city: photographers, tourists and ordinary correspondents.
History of snakes, goddess, Roman god and saint
Versions of the emergence of this festival vary. According to one of them, St. Dominico cleared the local fields of snakes that interfere with agriculture. Since then, it has been revered by the inhabitants of Kokullo. His statue has been exhibited on the streets of the city since 1392.
The second version refers to 700 BC. e. when the inhabitants of the city again experienced the troubles associated with the abundance of snakes in the fields. Then Apollo ordered to wrap them around his statue so that they would become tame.
The earliest version of the origin of the holiday dates back to the goddess of Angia. 3000 years ago, a woman whose sacred animal was a snake ruled the area. According to legend, that is why people offer her snakes as alms.
Catch the snake
The official opening day of the festival is March 19, when local snake charmers begin to catch four harmless local snakes: the local snake, Aesculapius snake, grass and dark green. Having caught the snake, the catcher removes her teeth, which makes her absolutely safe for humans.
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Holiday day
The festive day in Kokullo begins with the morning mass in a small church, when the locals ring the bells, striking them with their own teeth. According to legend, this helps them avoid toothache throughout the next year.
Next, the clergyman blesses the local soil, which will subsequently be distributed in the local fields as a natural pesticide.
Festive procession
A wooden statue of St. Domenico is taken out of a small church, and serpari - snake charmers, throw creeping reptiles on it.
Then the procession with the icon of St. Domenico framed with gold and decorated with precious stones, at the head, goes on a solemn procession along the narrow streets of ancient Kokullo.
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Ahead is a brass band, which even consists of musical instruments resembling snakes: oboe and clarinet. Women put on loudspeakers that broadcast what is happening over a long distance. The participants in the procession sing and read prayers. They are followed by more serious priests. Next up are the girls in traditional lace costumes. They carry the chambelli: small cakes resembling donuts, decorated with glaze of pastel colors. The procession is completed by a statue of St. Dominico, around which snakes are still entwined. Here are the spellcasters.
The final destination of the procession is the church where it started. Upon returning, a 10-minute overture plays, fireworks thundering, more like volleys of cannon guns.
It all looks like a real carnival. Locals are not at all afraid of snakes. On the contrary, they all strive to hold the symbol of the holiday in their hands, to take a couple of photos. Contacts with snakes on this day are welcome, because the city residents believe that they will bring them prosperity throughout the year until the next holiday.
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