The table of the dead 2025 in Spoltore: history, rites and procession of the dead friars


The table of the dead 2025 in Spoltore: history, rites and procession of the dead friars

THE TABLE OF THE DEAD
11th EDITION
NOVEMBER 1, 2025

6:30 PM Motorizzazione parking – Case Troiano
via Francia di Spoltore (Pescara)
free participation – info: 331/6796820

by Luciano Troiano

An event with roots in the dawn of time. The cult of the deceased, their memory, the family altars, the set table for those who still live in our hearts. History, legends and traditions dating back to medieval times and surviving to this day. The tradition of ritual food prepared for our departed loved ones will come back to life, following Abruzzo and Central-Southern Italian customs. It is “THE TABLE OF THE DEAD – THE PROCESSION OF THE DEAD FRIARS”, a unique event of its kind in Abruzzo that characterizes the city of Spoltore in the Italian cultural landscape for its originality.

La distribuzione delle candele ai partecipanti
The distribution of candles to participants



All participants will meet, as usual, in the Motorizzazione parking lot where candles will be distributed; their light will accompany us on the mystical and esoteric journey of the evening. The event will be presented by sociologist David Ferrante, a historian of Abruzzo traditions.

Il sociologo David Ferrante
Sociologist David Ferrante


To begin, we will tell the story of the Well of the Warriors, located beneath what is now an embankment-roundabout, where historically the soldiers of the Spanish garrison watered their horses during the Viceroyalty of Naples.

Gli zampognari presenti come ogni anno
The bagpipers present as every year


Then, by the light of the candles only, we will walk towards the Borgo Case Troiano, following a path marked by tea lights, with several stops, each characterized by a story about events and characters that have marked the Borgo itself. Along the path of the village, we will tell the medieval legend of the "Three Living and the Three Dead", of the "Dance of Death", escorted by knights in 13th-century historical dress, followed by a real combat between equites and death, a reenactment curated by the Compagnia Gualdana dell’Orso, specialized in medieval reenactments.

Il combattimento tra i tre vivi ed i tre morti
The combat between the three living and the three dead


And also the story of the discovery of bones following the planting of vineyards and olive groves, bones that still today suggest the presence of a cemetery area dating back to Roman times. In the olive grove, we will visit the site of an ancient burial, being careful not to fall victim to the pranks of “Lu Mazzamurille”, a little spirit with a red cap on his head who enjoys bothering the living with pranks of all kinds. A legend that originates from Italic traditions and the fauns who lived near the oak trees.

La visita alla tavola imbandita
The visit to the set table





La Tavola apparecchiata per i defunti
The Table set for the deceased


Then we will visit a local house, being mindful of the “Procession of the Dead Friars” who, in silence and with lit candles, will follow the attendees. Their story will be told, but without looking them in the eyes: under penalty of losing one's soul.

La processione dei Frati Morti e delle Anime Perse
The Procession of the Dead Friars and the Lost Souls


Outside every home there will be symbols, such as the bag of wheat or the upside-down broom, and each time we will explain the reasons for these presences, which are rooted in Abruzzo tradition. The tables will also be set according to local customs, with ham and cheese, pasta with sauce, chicken and potatoes, water, wine, bread, coffee, biscuits, sweets and fruit.

I Frati Morti con gli oggetti simbolici nelle loro mani
The Dead Friars with symbolic objects in their hands


But the peculiarity is that this food cannot be consumed, because the 'set table' must welcome the souls who will spend the night in that kitchen and who will be able to find, as tradition dictates, the dishes they loved so much in life. The houses will have extinguished and covered embers, basins without water, and all pots covered. An ancient custom that recalls the refrigerium later forbidden by Christianity and, in more recent times, “il consolo” for the family of the deceased.

L’altare domestico dei defunti
The domestic altar of the deceased


The food from the table, the following day, will be destined, as per tradition, for the poor. During the evening, it will be possible to visit the church of the Santissima Trinità (Most Holy Trinity), located in Case Troiano, which will be regularly open, and the residents of the borgo will tell stories about the “presences” that still animate the village today. Particularly interesting will be the setup of the altar of the Anime Pezzentelle (The Wretched Souls), the souls in purgatory seeking grace, with the opportunity to listen to the story of a devotion that is entirely Abruzzo and Southern Italian, and the encounter with the Abruzzo Pulcinella, a link between the world of the living and the dead, with his Phrygian cap and thyrsus staff.

Il ponte delle anime perse e dei frati morti
The bridge of the lost souls and the dead friars


The theatrical narration will be entrusted to the actors of the Rinascita Partenopea theater company, who will recreate the customs and traditions of a typical Central-Southern Italian home during the night between November 1st and 2nd. At the end of the event, all participants will be offered the ‘penitential food’, also strictly respectful of tradition, namely ‘il grano dei morti’ (the wheat of the dead), which is boiled wheat with walnuts, pomegranate and cooked must, boiled broad beans, roasted chickpeas, pumpkin and potatoes with red wine and the famous "torrone dei morti" (nougat of the dead) produced by master pastry chef and world pastry champion Federico Anzellotti, who represented Italy at the Dubai Expo and the world fair in Osaka.

La distribuzione del cibo rituale
The distribution of the ritual food


During the distribution of the food, their qualities and, above all, their exoteric and esoteric meaning will be explained. Those present will therefore have the opportunity to rediscover a tradition that was widespread throughout the South until the 1950s and which has unfortunately been lost." Then, before midnight, everyone goes home, knocking three times on the front door to prevent witches and mazzamurille from disturbing our peaceful night.

Il grano dei morti che sarĂ  distribuito gratuitamente il primo novembre
The "grano dei morti" which will be distributed for free on November 1st


Saturday, November 15th will see the event land in Naples for the TENTH time, the ‘Procession of the Dead Friars and the Lost Souls’ promoted by the Fontevecchia Association of Spoltore in collaboration with ‘I Sedili di Napoli’, responsible for organizing the traditional procession of San Gennaro and the reenactment of the arrival of the lazzari on the occasion of Sant'Antonio, Passi e Note and Fantasie d'Epoca. For seven years now, the event has had the honor of opening the festivities of the “Long Neapolitan Christmas”. The event will take place in the heart of the historic center of Naples, in the historic RIONE SANITA', with a parade that, starting from 10:30 AM onwards, will see the 'Dead Friars' parade, side by side, preceded by knights and the "sad reaper" followed by bagpipes and performers wearing costumes from the historical collection of Fontevecchia and the Chieti Association ‘Camminando Insieme’. The parade will be led by children from some Neapolitan elementary schools who have brought back to life the tradition of the “cascettelle”, small boxes with a skull and crossbones used to ask for alms for the souls: obviously, this is a historical reenactment that completes the event. Overall, the Abruzzo delegation of Fontevecchia will consist of about 100 people, including performers, technicians, and companions. For the Fontevecchia Association, it is a pride and an honor to have established such an important collaboration with the 'I Sedili di Napoli' Association and to bring a piece of our Abruzzo tradition to the city of Naples, which is part of the common heritage of the entire Central-South, of culture and tradition. The event will start from the church of Santa Maria del Rosario alle Pigne, known as Rosariello alle Pigne in via Cavour

Santa Maria del Rosario alle Pigne o Rosariello alle Pigne
Santa Maria del Rosario alle Pigne or Rosariello alle Pigne


then continue along via Crocelle, via Misericordiella with a stop at the place hosting the works of Neapolitan artist Christian Leperino, via Vergini, the heart of the Rione SanitĂ , via Cristallini with a stop at the splendid Chiesa Blu, i.e., Santa Maria della Maddalena, which after 40 years, in 2023, reopened with murals by great artists and repainted by the kids of the neighborhood in the light blue color that was chosen by the residents, because it is the color of the sea... and of Napoli soccer team.

Chiesa di Santa Maria della Maddalena ai Cristallini (Chiesa Blu)
Church of Santa Maria della Maddalena ai Cristallini (Blue Church)


It will continue along the Gradoni Capodimonte, Salita Capodimonte, Via San Severo with a stop at the Church of San Severo fuori le mura, via San Severo, Piazza SanitĂ  to reach Borgo Vergini again.

Palazzo dello Spagnolo con le scale ad ali di falco
Palazzo dello Spagnolo with the falcon-wing staircases



The event is made possible by the collaboration of the local network of associations led by I Sedili di Napoli Onlus, the third municipality “Stella-Sanità”, Naples Local Police and the Police Headquarters. The event seals and confirms an important twinning with Naples and its cultural associations, aimed at recovering those traditions common to the Central-South which risk being lost today. The events of November 1st and 15th enjoy the following patronages: Presidency of the Abruzzo Regional Government, Presidency of the Abruzzo Regional Council, Asi Nazionale, Province of Pescara, Municipality of Naples, Municipality of Spoltore. The organization is by the Fontevecchia Association in collaboration with Beato Marco d’Aviano, I Sedili di Napoli, Fantasie d’Epoca, Zampognari d’Abruzzo, Gruppo di Rievocazione Storica Medievale, Ipssar De Cecco di Pescara, Fantasie d'Epoca



Sources:
Fontevecchia Archive
Usi e costumi abruzzesi by Antonio De Nino
Credenze, usi e costumi abruzzesi by Gennaro Finamore
Il costume popolare abruzzese tra ‘700 ed ‘800 by Marino Solfanelli
Capetiempe by Antonio Di Fonso
Luoghi e genti d’Abruzzo by Picchione, Lopardi, Mancinelli
Una settimana in Abruzzo by Ugo Ojetti
Bona dea. DivinitĂ  femminili arcaiche, riti iniziatici e prostituzione sacra nell'Abruzzo italico by Maria Concetta Nicolai
Pane dell'uomo pane di Dio. SacralitĂ , identitĂ  collettiva e antropologia del cibo nell'Abruzzo antico e loro persistenza nelle tradizioni popolari religiose by Maria Concetta Nicolai
Il mangiafavole. Inchiesta diretta sul folklore abruzzese by Emiliano Giancristofaro
Tradizioni popolari d’Abruzzo by Emiliano Giancristofaro
Abruzzo magico by David Ferrante
I pilastri dell'anno. Il significato occulto del calendario by Maurizio Ponticello
Misteri, segreti e storie insolite di Napoli by Maurizio Ponticello
Forse non tutti sanno che a Napoli... by Maurizio Ponticello
Napoli velata e sconosciuta by Maurizio Ponticello
Fate bbene all'anime d'o priatorio. Le ÂŤanime pezzentelleÂť nel presepio napoletano by Giuseppe Piccinino and Giuseppe Serroni



Photo credits:
Fontevecchia Archive
Stefano Celiberti
Antonio Del Furbo
Lidea di Patricia Fogaraccio
Campaniasecrets.com
Silvio Gaudenti (Palazzo dello Spagnolo)



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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.