Experiencing a Traditional Celebration in Regional Italy
The region of Abruzzo, Italy, comes alive with an age-old tradition that blazes every year. This tradition, known as “Le Farchie”, is a mesmerizing spectacle that ignites the dark winter night with a burst of warmth and light.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the significance of Le Farchie, the preparations that go into the event, and the experience of witnessing this radiant display firsthand.
We really consider this celebration the highlight of our five weeks spent in Europe!
So what actually is Le Farchie?
Before we begin, we just want to note: The specific customs associated with Le Farchie may vary from one town to another. Our experience was in the town of Fara Filiorum Petri, in the province of Chieti, roughly 45 minutes drive from Lanciano.
Le Farchie is a historic celebration symbolising the victory of light over darkness. In the months leading up to the celebration, local residents and community members construct tall, cylindrical bundles of reeds, often secured with twigs or rope. These bundles (called a farchie) can vary in size, with some towering up to ten meters high! They are usually created during the summer months so they remain dry. Each district creates their own farchie and, during the afternoon, they are paraded into the town and brought outside the Church of St. Anthony Abate. As the sun sets, the torches are set ablaze, creating a mesmerizing display of light and fire.
The history of Le Farchie
Le Farchie is a centuries-old tradition. The origins of this fiery spectacle can be found in both pagan and Christian traditions, making it a unique blend of ancient and religious symbolism. The name “Farchie” is believed to come from the Latin “fax”, which means torch, and the event dates back to pre-Christian times when torches were lit to celebrate the winter solstice. Over the centuries, this tradition evolved into a symbol of the triumph of light over darkness and was incorporated into the Feast of St. Anthony Abate, the patron saint of animals and fire. Legend claims that St. Anthony went into hell and stole the devil’s fire. Today, Le Farchie stands as a captivating testament to the region’s rich history, combining centuries of culture and faith into a mesmerizing display of torches that light up the winter night.
When is it celebrated?
Le Farchie is typically celebrated on the evening of January 16th, which coincides with the Feast of St. Anthony Abate, the patron saint of animals and fire. This date is significant in the towns and communities in Abruzzo, Italy, where Le Farchie is observed.
It’s worth noting that while January 16th is the primary date for the celebration, local traditions and variations may exist, so it’s a good idea to check schedules and details for the specific location where you plan to witness the celebration.
Where can I celebrate?
Le Farchie is primarily celebrated in certain towns and communities within the Abruzzo region of Italy, particularly in the provinces of Chieti and Teramo. While it’s not observed in every town in Abruzzo, it is a tradition that has deep roots in the local culture of specific areas within the region. Each participating town may have its own unique way of celebrating Le Farchie, and the level of enthusiasm and scale of the festivities can vary from place to place.
So what can we expect?
Okay, the fun part!
We arrived late to the event (roughly 8:00pm) so unfortunately didn’t get to witness any sort of procession or the lighting of the farchie at the beginning of the evening. By the time we arrived, I would say the celebration was in full swing.
This was like no event we have seen before. All we kept thinking was, this would never be allowed in Australia! The towering, burning farchie (more than we could count on two hands!) were all in the middle of a gravelled carpark, and there were people everywhere. No roped off areas, no warning signs, just people wandering around the giant burning candlesticks. Oh, and did we mention there was also free-flowing wine? Fire and free alcohol, what a mix!
The atmosphere was nothing short of merry. Most people were singing traditional songs, with some playing organettos (similar to an accordion) and putipù (an Italian drum named after the sound it makes). Those leading the songs were climbing the non-burning farchie and sitting atop as they sung.
On top of all the merriment, the giant farchie were being pushed so they would topple over. Once on the ground, people would come forward and work to saw the farchie in half, with the hand saw changing operator multiple times before someone would finally pull out a chainsaw and do the rest of the job. Once the farchie was successfully cut into two, the burning half would be left on the ground to continue smouldering, while the fresh half would be loaded onto the back of an open trailer. Dozens of people were then piling on to the trailer (no seatbelts!), alcohol in hand, which would then drive back to one of the districts, where the farchie on board would be lit and burn while celebrations continued.
We ended up following a trailer and walking back to the town centre. Again, the wine was flowing, and there were some very lovely locals serving food who had spent DAYS before the event preparing enough for a small crowd. Honestly, we don’t remember what we were served (by this point we can’t remember too many details…) but it was delicious and home-made. We didn’t get home until the early hours of the next morning.
Extra tips
The public bathrooms outside the Church of St. Anthony Abate were absolutely revolting, and the ones in the town centre weren’t much better. It won’t ruin your night, but just keep that in mind.
There were a couple of food and beer trucks outside the Church of St. Anthony Abate, but the lines were extremely long.
Drink lots of water. Trust us.
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We hope you enjoyed this post and would LOVE to hear what you think about this celebration - would you attend?
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