| The town of Alfena, maintains still nowadays the use of hymning openly to the goddess Pomona, an event coming from an unique and unknown paga rite that is celebrated in the last day of February, despite the strong aversion of the Church. The ancientness of the worship of Pomona is proven by the existence of its own flamen and a special place of worship, located on the Via Ostiense, near the town of Castel Porziano. Pomona means Lady of the fruit day; she was always portrayed as a young woman with a cornucopia full of all kinds of fruits, in one hand, and a flowering branch in the other. On 28 February, at dusk, gropus of young men, equippen with cattle's horns and whistles, scythes and other noisy tools, gather to the town's historic center. Each group runs through the narrow streets, making loud noises until dawn. |