A snake fest in Italy

In the old Italian village of Cocullo located on the slopes of the Apennine Mountains in the region of Abruzzo, every year on the first Thursday of May a peculiar fest is celebrated in honour of San Domenico. Here you will be able to witness an event which will be different to any event experienced. Snakes are freed on the streets and squares of the village, an old ancient tradition.

The story starts here. San Domenico, an abbot, was considered a healer against snake and dog bites. Furthermore he was also the patron saint of the toothache. The cult of the saint entwines with the old pagan snake rites, typical of the people of the Marsica, this pagan rite was then adopted by the Romans. The people of Marsica were famous in times of old as snake tamers and clever poison makers and they used to worship the goddess Agizia who would put her magic powers into practice from a cave located on the Fucino lake.

During the days that precede the festivities of San Domenico of Cocullo (the first Thursday in May), shepherds and country folk search the countryside looking for snakes and these snakes are then kept in big wicker baskets and are then set free among the faithful present in the church during the festivity.

During the procession, the statue of the Saint is wrapped by the biggest snakes and is serenaded through the faithful who throw handfuls of small snakes at the saint. Many people pick these small snakes up from the ground and put them on themselves as it is believed that they have curative powers. The faithful are then blessed with a reliquary which contains the saint’s tooth. At the end of the procession all the snakes are collected and set free in the country side.

For the toothache faithful, he who wants to defend himself from toothache needs to attend the rite of the “bell sound”, this takes place inside the church. This bell, which is set in motion by a rope, needs to be pulled by the teeth.

The Italian Connection has put together a group tour with a minimum of 25 persons starting on Wednesday 6th May 2009 and ending on Sunday the 10th May which will allow you to bear witness to the festival but will also introduce you to the beautiful region of Abruzzo, which still remains untouched by tourism. Prices for the group start from £199.00 per person sharing in a double room.

For more information, log on to italian-connection.co.uk.