The Moccoli of Castignano (AP)

Il Carnival in Castignano is one of the Historical Carnivals most characteristic of Piceno. Highly anticipated event, which involves the entire country and is distinguished by the rich calendar of events, crowded by many visitors. It begins on the afternoon of Thursday when the Proloco di Castignano offers all the "pizzaonte" watered by good wine castignano. Follow the dancing parties on Friday and Saturday and to flirt with straight to the imaginative parade of floats and masked groups along via Borgo Garibaldi on Mardi Gras day, enlivened by the centuries-old local "Banda musicale Città di Castignano," glory of Castignano.
At dusk the carnival ends with a parade of "I Swear": the Moccoli are multicolored lanterns constructed with great skill by local artisans, on a cane still green diamond-shaped ending in more faces (4, 5 or 6 may be with faces and all sizes) covered with tissue paper of different colors. Within this receptacle, which remains open, is inserted a candle that lights up before leaving for procession of Malan. Some 18th century historical sources indicate that the parade of Malan was in Papal Rome in order to put an end to the Carnival.
Following the unification of Italy this custom was lost, but not in Castignano, Italy has handed down only in this tradition continuously at least since 1861.
To the sound of "Catubba", the first Malan themselves through the streets of the medieval town and invite everyone to leave the House to tag along in the parade to recall ' Fora fora moccule them! "
A magical and mysterious ritual rooted in the mists of time.
The procession takes place with the lights off, no public lighting: the fascinating and colorful colourful candles River becomes a torrent of sounds, light and joy that projects all in an ancient world and fantastic (to exorcise the ills of the past year and to wish good luck for the future) and in a dramatic crescendo, culminating in St Peter's square for the traditional battle, from which flows the bonfire Purifier.
The dimming of the fire and its spectacular fireworks mark the end of Carnival and the beginning of lent, but not to overthink the castignano close in beauty to new year end Carnival, at the teatro comunale.

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