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# 77 MARCH 21 , 2016
The ritual, that since Etruscan was
made next to that of the "seed
buried" symbol of life, was then
Christianized, like many other pagan rituals, and approached during the Middle Ages to the feast
of Saint Joseph. For the occasion,
religious traditions and folklore
are intertwined, creating a moment of joy and happiness in the
streets of the village of Pitigliano,
usually on the weekend near the
March 19, ending on the 19th
with the big bonfire.
A historical parade in costumes
from the XV century, torches and
candles and a religious celebrations enliven the village, up to the
expected time of the great fire:
three trumpets kick off the march of forty «torciatori» that depart
from St. Joseph’s Cave, downstream of the town along the river
Meleta, bringing on each shoulder a bundle of flaming reeds
and following the statue of St. Joseph, which is also carried on the
18 | WE THE ITALIANS
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