Feast of Sant'Antonio Abate
On 17 January, several Italian towns celebrate the Festa di Sant'Antonio Abate or Feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot, also known as Saint Anthony the Great. Although he is often overshadowed by similarly named Saint Anthony of Padua, this Egyptian saint is particularly important throughout southern Italy, and is the patron saint of butchers, domestic animals, basketmakers,and gravediggers; he also protects against skin diseases, especially shingles known as "Fuoco di Sant'Antonio" (Fire of Saint Anthony) in Italy.
Saint Anthony the Abbot was a hermit who renounced his worldly possessions to follow Jesus and performed miracles throughout his life. He is considered the first to live a truly monastic lifestyle and was repeatedly tempted by the devil, persevering through prayer. This aspect of the saint's life is often portrayed in images of him with the devil at his feet.
His feast day is celebrated with processions, music, and especially bonfires as one legend claims that he went to hell to steal the devil's fire, and indeed, while he distracted the devil, his piglet ran in and stole a firebrand to take back to humans on Earth.
The following are some examples of Sant'Antonio Abate celebrations; the first video is in Novoli in the province of Lecce (Puglia) and the rest are in Macerata in Campania:
I find the music in these especially incredible. Have you ever celebrated Sant'Antonio Abate?
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Focara - Novoli
It's late afternoon on the 16th January and I'll be going shortly to Novoli for the festival of the town's patron saint. The event celebrates Sant'Antonio Abate (Saint Anthony the Abbot) but the focus of the civil observations, the lighting of an enormous bonfire (this year said to be 20 metres in diamentre by 25 metres high) is a rite with it's roots firmly planted in pagan practice. See the website for the Fòcara at Novoli (in Italian only): http://www.focara.it/
A similar event takes place on 30th and 31st of January in a town called Grottaglie, about 65 km north east in the province of Taranto, to celebrate that town's patron saint, Ciro (Cyrus).
Panettone
It's all very well saying how wonderful panettone is. I've even introduced all my Intalian adult students to it, but have you tried to make one sucessfully?
I tried many years ago even though mamma said the best food made from industrial outlets are panettone. But, no I had to prove her wrong and guess what. It was a total disaster. I haven't given up yet. It doesn't matter how many Italian cookery books I end up buying.
Can anyone let me know of a good recipe and I will come back to you all with the results. After all, it may take a long time to cook, but what a talking feature around the table drinking a good glass of GRAPPA!!!
blessing the animals
As an American chef and cooking teacher living in Tuscany for the past 25 years, this is one of my FAVORITES!
http://divinacucina.blogspot.com/2006/01/bless-this-grub.html
wish I could see it!
Judy, I've never heard of them doing the animal blessings around here--just asked P and he gave me a solid "boh." We used to have animal blessings in America, but more for pets--and on October 4 with St Francis. If you can video/photos, I'd love to see them :)
Sant'Antonio's blessing of the animals
The celebration of the Feast of Sant'Antonio in Novoli also includes a blessing of the animals. It takes place immediately before the procession through the town of the statue of the patron saint (in the afternoon of the day before the festival [i.e. 16th January]). From what I understand it used to be a much bigger part of the formal celebration but has been very much overshadowed now by the lighting of the bonfire. In the past, a single, symbolic pig was adorned with a red ribbon and left to graze and forage in liberty around the town. This practice no longer takes place.
I'm curious to know whether celebrations of the Feast of Sant'Antonio further north in Italy also involve these giant 'Fòcara' or if it is, as I suspect, a local tradition particular to southern Puglia, given that at this time of year there are similar observances in other local towns with different patron saints?
I've written a brief account of the festival and posted a photo on the following website: Cultour - Festa of Sant'Antonio and the Fòcara at Novoli
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