Fogheraccia
Fogheraccia di San Giuseppe | |
---|---|
Also called |
|
Observed by | |
Type | Cultural and agricultural |
Significance | Celebrating 18 April |
Next time | 18 April 2025 |
Frequency | Annual |
Related to | Saint Joseph's Day |
The Fogheraccia di San Giuseppe (
The tradition is believed to be of
Name
In
Distribution and Lòm a Merz
The Riminese fugaràza extends the length of the city's coastal conurbation from Cattolica to Cesenatico.[1] Bonfires are also lit across San Marino.[3]
While bonfires are also lit on 18 March outside of the coastal settlements,[4][8] in some inland settlements, they are anticipated in the peasant tradition of Lòm a Merz (transl. Lights of March).[4][6] Held in the last three days of February and the first three days of March, the festival also features bonfires and traditional music.[6][7] According to a local superstition, on those six days, collectively known as the dé dla Canucéra, a mysterious and ominous influence could wreak havoc at an unknown and unpredictable hour, so that agricultural workers should abstain from work.[7]
In some inland settlements, the bonfires intersect with the
History and customs
The fogheraccia likely derives from customs for the spring equinox.[2][4] The event may be linked to the Celtic occupation of Romagna, and share cultural roots with the Celtic festival of Beltane. The bonfires may have been intended to warm the Sun after winter,[2] or they may have been intended as a purification ritual for fire or agriculture.[4][9] The Lòm a Merz especially coincides with the beginning of the early Roman calendar:[1][5] the bonfires may have symbolised the start of the new year,[1][4] and honoured Mars, the Roman god of agriculture, whose month was March, in preparation for the agricultural season.[5]
Large bonfires would be erected in each village, while remote houses would construct their own smaller bonfires.
Fogheraccia, fogheraccia, Saint Joseph is made happy,
and the Madonna is raised.
Villagers would commonly visit other local bonfires after staying some time with their own.
In contemporary celebrations, the bonfires are accompanied by cultural celebrations, including traditional music and food stands selling piada,[5][1] doughnuts, and wine.[5][4] The exact date of the celebration is liable to postponement due to bad weather.[11]
Outside Romagna
Bonfires are lit for
In popular culture
A fogheraccia features in the opening scenes of Federico Fellini's 1973 film Amarcord.[1][4] Depicting a moment in shared village life,[5] a segavecchia is set alight at the top of the fire,[1][4] with the words: "And with this fire, my old lady, the winter and frost takes you away."[1]
See also
- Kupala Night – an Eastern Slavic festival featuring bonfires on Saint John's Eve
- List of Celtic festivals
- Scheibenschlagen – a Central European Lenten festival featuring bonfires
- Walpurgis Night – a Christian festival in Northern and Central Europe featuring bonfires in late April
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Fogheraccia 2023, dove andare in Romagna per i falò di San Giuseppe" [Fogheraccia 2023: Where to go in Romagna for the bonfires of St Joseph]. Il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). 15 March 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "18 marzo – La fugaràza 'd San Jusèf" [18 March – St Joseph's bonfire]. Chiamami Città (in Italian). 18 March 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Fogheraccia 2024: dove andare a San Marino per i falò di San Giuseppe" [Fogheraccia 2024: Where to go in San Marino for St Joseph's bonfires]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). 18 March 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Lazzari, Martina (17 March 2024). "Fogheraccia: origine del falò che "incendia" la notte di San Giuseppe" [Fogheraccia: Origin of the bonfire that "alights" St Joseph's night]. RiminiToday (in Italian). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Le fogheracce". Rimini Turismo (in Italian). 18 March 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d Bezzi, Roberta (22 February 2024). "Lòm a Mêrz, da lunedì si accendono i fuochi" [Lòm a Merz: An ancient peasant tradition between bonfires and music]. Il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Gambetti, Nicola (28 June 2023). "Alle radici della "Fogheraccia"" [At the roots of the "Fogheraccia"]. Rimini Sparita APS (in Italian). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Lippi, Giacomo (15 March 2024). "San Giuseppe 2024, i falò si accendono in Romagna: ecco dove" [St Joseph's 2024: The bonfires are lit in Romagna; here's where]. Il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Campagna, Claudia (17 March 2017). "La tradizionale Focarina di San Giuseppe" [The traditional Focarina of St Joseph]. Romagna a Tavola (in Italian). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b c Nardi, Grazia (7 October 2023). "La "fugaràza"". Rimini Sparita APS (in Italian). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Conti, Enea (17 March 2023). "Dopo tre anni di stop, torna la tradizione della fogheraccia, tanto amata da Fellini" [After a three-year hiatus, the tradition of the fogheraccia, so loved by Fellini, returns]. Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Giurato, Flaminia (19 March 2015). "Bobbio, il rito antico per San Giuseppe" [Bobbio: The ancient rite for Saint Joseph's]. La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- Agenzia ANSA(in Italian). 28 February 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Bobbio, Festa di Primavera 2014 e Fuiè di San Giuseppe" [Bobbio: Spring Festival 2014 and the Fuiè di San Giuseppe]. IlPiacenza (in Italian). 17 March 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "A Serracapriola torna "Ù Féòn", il tradizionale falò di San Giuseppe" ["Ù Féòn", St Joseph's traditional bonfire, returns to Serracapriola]. FoggiaToday (in Italian). 13 March 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "A Itri i tradizionali Fuochi di San Giuseppe" [In Itri, the traditional St Joseph's Bonfires]. LatinaToday (in Italian). 16 March 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.