The fire of vine shoots (shoots) for Focara Novoli del Salento Lecce

The fire of vine shoots (shoots) for Focara Novoli del Salento Lecce


Anthony Bruno



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"The Focara of St. Anthony," which takes place every year in Novoli del Salento Lecce January 16 to 18, registered from 80 to 100 thousand visitors. In particular, in three days Novoles 2008, the estimated flow of admissions was 80 thousand in 2009 to 100 thousand and 95 thousand in 2010. The figure for 2010 was higher because the party was held at the weekend, then predictable that the same thing will happen this year. For us to not miss anything, Sunday, January 16, 2010, in the square type Schipa, after turning the Focara, there will be a group of Milanese musical "Elio e le Storie Tese. The Mayor of Novoli Vetrugno said: "The bonfire that lights the night Novoles is the sign of identity of a people and a territory. The religious path from which we started has turned into a tourist trail of excellence particularly valuable because seasonally adjusted and linked to the quality of the territory and its products. The pilgrim, devoted to the saint, became a tourist enogastronomy and popular culture. " But that's how things really are?

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The origins of Focara Novoli



A Novoli nobody knows when it is started to gather around the fire. In a note from the site of pro Novoli reads:

"The first written source dates back to 1893 in that year" The Journal of Apulia "points out that the fire, because of the rain came on. According to some sources, in 1905 a heavy snowfall whitening bonfire on the eve of the feast. The student of popular traditions FD'Elia, in an essay of 1912, speaks of its construction as "an ancient rite." However, the same D'Elia does not write how old nor how long there is no need to go back



The Focara Southeast set up by a Venetian?



Always the Pro Loco of Novoli writes in a statement: "The Origin of Focara and controversial issue among scholars. It seems you do date back to the fifteenth century, when there was a Venetian presence in Novoli who was in business on the local production of wine, oil and cotton, and ran a center for horse breeding (The Riding School). "

The presence of the Venetian traders in Lecce is still occurring because in Salento Lecce also built their mansions, among all, I remember the seat made in Lecce at Piazza Sant'Oronzo in 1592.

Of course we know that by 1546 the estate of Novoli enjoyed a period of splendor under the House of Mattei, which they built the baronial palace and several churches, including the Church of Saint Anthony Abbot.



The North East Foghera Fulco Pratesi



I wonder with great interest and then read these words of Fulco Pratesi remind myself that it is the journalist, environmentalist, illustrator and political Italian, founder of WWF Italy, where he is now honorary chairman:

"Of course we know that in the South ignite bonfires on the beach the night before the Assumption (August 15) and opportunity for dances, dinners, night dives collective.

In 'North East Italy, especially in Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, bonfires are lit at night instead of the Epiphany, between 5 and 6 January. This is a very old tradition: even before the Romans, the Gentiles were gathered in this way, after the winter solstice (December 21) when the days get longer to recover, to invoke the benevolence of Belenos (Celtic god of fire and sunlight) and to ward off evil influences. The tradition of these great bonfire was not abolished by Christianity and came to this day ... ...

In all cases the fires (in dialect "Foghera ',' Pignarul ',' fugarisse ',' focaraccio ') are used primarily to party, to try to guess, changes in the smoke and sparks, as will be the year just started with mulled wine and feasting (mulled wine spiced with cinnamon and cloves) and the typical "caliper" (cake flour, corn, pine nuts, dried figs and raisins). "

The article by Fulvio Pratesi supports the hypothesis that the Focara Novoli arrivals from Venice! Do not you think?



The Focara I was doing for public housing in San Cesario di Lecce



"Mrs. Asche DDO nni tai pe lla Fòcara?" (Translation Lady gives us a bit 'of wood to make a nice bonfire?). I was a little boy with short pants and with my playmates, all regular "street", knocking on doors of houses. Other than "trick or trick" of memory with their Anglo-Saxon Halloween, we joke we did in the cold by organizing its end through a beautiful Fòcara (Beacon).

Everyone involved with bruised legs in the cold "Carisch Asche" (translation: transporting the wood) that accumulated in the field that was not planted in front of the district of "Case Ina" (now called the 167 as if it were a car of Alfa Romeo). Depending on the generosity of the lord "the Fòcara" became more or less high. The work of our children were entertained by constructive theories to make high and stable from the Pira and 'anxiety about waiting on.

All the people in the "Case INA, which had contributed to their wood that splendid manifestation of energy and light, approached the fire, warming themselves and are told things that they had no way to tell until then.

People who do not usually frequent, had the opportunity to talk, to exchange caresses that communicated, causing wonder and curiosity.

A shawl on the shoulders of women and the brazier in his hand ... that copper does not last long, the bronze will last longer .... The pallet and .... "Careful not to burn" that the fire burns, to put into the pot and add in a second time the "coals" derived from the shells of almonds, or coal.

All of the "INA CASE" around the fire, regardless of age, sex, social class and religion. Everyone is allowed near the fire, everyone is attracted to that bouncy bonfire that lights and warms the hearts of the emotion.



A Focara to get closer to home



And if today I were somewhere in the world and want a taste 'of the smell of Salento Lecce? Maybe in the throes of nostalgia, I tried to convince the natives to build a bonfire, to feel the warmth of my house, far as I am, somewhere in the world.

That Venetian trades Novoli wines, so I guess me. Makes good business, bought the wine of Salento Lecce and embark at Brindisi and San Cataldo, 500 years ago and he is always there, not to lose business, while Venice and its lagoon are terribly far away wet.

The rich north east of 500 years ago that doing business, stationed in Lecce and Salento Venetian us build their "seat" and their residences and do it in the style that they have at home, exactly the same style of the Republic of Venice!



A proposal to Mayor of Novoli



Too bad no one knows how to call this merchant of Venice, a pity that nobody has picked up its secrets and has been handed down to us, to know if he was in love with a beautiful woman in Venice, and suffered for his absence, or if it was given to trade away from home to forget a love that had made him suffer.

The citizens of Novoli del Salento Lecce no longer recall the name of the Venetian trade who loved fire and horses. Lost forever.

Strange fate for those who discover the fire or who advertise the use. Nobody remembers who was able to light the first fire and no one remembers who the man of Venice, which has touted the fire "the Focara" Novoli that brings so much richness in this town.

Dear Mayor Vetrugno seen that the city derives from Focara, why not finance research aimed to clarify and, where the news emerged that lead to the discovery of the name of the mysterious Venetian merchant, maybe offer to citizenship, given the large business for everyone, of giving him a monument? Does not it seem to be the case?



* Agronomist (expert in urban and regional diagnostic entitled International University Master's Degree in Diagnostic IMD Urban and Regional Urban and Territorial Diagnostics).





Bibliography

The Focara Novoli http://www.cisonostato.it/italia/puglia/3, 26.13 / viaggi/la-focara-di-novoli/2369/1.html

Fulco Pratesi, The Bonfire of the Epiphany: you know why you burn the witch?

Antonio Bruno, A fire to light the curious turn on the emotions and warm hearts. http://www.freeonline.org/articoli/com/cs-48645/Un_fuoco_per_illuminare_la_curiosit_accendere_le_emozioni_e_scaldare_i_cuori

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