Italian Festivals and Traditions

ST. Paul di soegn (25^th January)

It is a religious feast which commerotates St. Paul’s conversion. Once it was a particular day because the night between January 24^th and 25^th the young girls of marriageable age put on the windowsill a plate full of water. During that night, one of the longest of the year, the water froze and the following morning the girls tried to interpret the signs that were on the ice. According to what the girl ‘saw’, she could deduce her future husband’s job.

If for example she saw a sickle or a rake it meant she would marry a farmer, if she saw a hammer or an anvil, she would marry a blacksmith….

However it was very difficult to interpret these signs, so the girls could ‘see’ what they wished to ‘see’.

Moreover on January 25^th the farmer could foresee the weather of the following spring.

Candlemas (February 2^nd)

Candlemas (from the word candle) is a feast, which celebrates the Virgin Mother’s purification, and in catholic churches people observe the rite of the candles consecration.

According to the tradition priests give the parishioners the blessed candles. It is believed that if candles are lighted, they will protect the person. All this could happen in difficult situations: while nursing the sick, while waiting for a person in danger, during storms and during difficult births.

Originally the distribution of candles was adopted by the primitive Church against the Pagan tradition of Lupercalia. After the blessing of the fire (Ignis), people used to celebrate rites about the renewal of life that started a new cycle after being purified by the fire: it was the coming of Spring.