The Feast of The Candelora in Fontevecchia

  • 21/01/2020
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Sunday, February 2 from 5 p.m.

A basket with taralli, devotional anise cakes, and, next to it, blessed candles, which will be used for the rite of the blessing of the throat. Back on Sunday, February 2, the rite of Candlemas in the Borgo Case Troiano, where, as tradition dictates, the altar will be set up at the Church of the Holy Trinity, open from 5 p.m., with the distribution of the blessed candles of the Candle, organized by the Fontevecchia Association.

The Candelora and the cult of San Biagio are strongly felt in Abruzzo, so much so that it is the patron saint of Alanno, Bussi and Castiglione in Casauria, only in the province of Pescara. Not forgetting that Penne is revered the skull of the saint, in the Cathedral of San Flaviano in Giulianova is preserved the arm of San Biagio, enclosed in a silver reliquary made in the shape of a blessing arm and with a palm between his fingers, symbol of the martyrdom of the 1394. And the tradition of the festival is also widespread in Taranta Peligna, where the 'panicelles', i.e. the hand-shaped loaves that are distributed among the citizens, and finally in Lettomanoppello, are prepared.

Even Fontevecchia has always honored the anniversary of the Holy Protector of the throat, respecting a simple but well-rooted rite for the festival, called 'Biasciora'. During the day, an altar with the classic blessed taralli is set up inside one of the foundations of the village. Next to the devotional basket are the white candles, also blessed on Candleday, On February 2, the popular holiday of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and which also recalls the presentation at the Temple of Jesus. Usually the waxworks are used on February 2nd in the procession before mass, where the candle is the symbol of Christ 'light to illuminate the people'.

On the day of San Biagio the same candles are used for the rite of the blessing of the throat. At the end of the day they are taken home, one per family, where they are kept and turned on to invoke divine protection during thunderstorms, hailstorms and other events to protect those who may find themselves in dangerous conditions. And in fact every family on Sunday evening will bring in their home a tarallo and a candle. As always the goal of the Fontevecchia Association is to seek and bring back ancient customs and customs, traditions sometimes lost and that instead had a great meaning, ritual as well as religious, for our grandparents.



About Us

The committee for the establishment of the Fontevecchia Association was formed in 2010 and is an active part of civil society with interventions relating to the environment, mobility, knowledge and integration. The purpose of the association, in addition to the protection of traditions, the territory and the aesthetic redevelopment of the village born in 1600, is articulated on a wide range of interventions.