| Is renewed every year on the first Thursday in May, Cocullo (AQ), the colorful procession of the "serpents", also known as the most pagan rites among Christians, in honor of the patron Saint Domenico in the country, which protects against the bite of snakes and has the power to heal diseases of the teeth. After the church service in the Church, the Saint is carried in procession covered with live snakes (not poisonous of course) and the mantle is gradually covered with jewels and dollars hanging by migrants returning to this country for the "feast of the snake-charmers." The parade is preceded by the clergy and girls in costumes go "Ciambelli" sweets that are prepared for the anniversary. Live snakes are coiled around its neck and arms of the snake-charmers and the faithful who walk slowly, singing to the crowd. Noon when the procession leaves for the inhabitants of Cocullo is time dellla truth: the behavior of snakes is the most diverse derive omens: if the snakes moving slowly wrap themselves around the head of the saint, then it is good sign and the crowd applauds happy, but if the snakes make their way to the arms deserting his head then the popular imagination gallops and each provides its own reading of the incident. |