Cocullo and the "Rite of Serpari" : where Christian devotion meets the archaic ritual of "serpari".

The first Thursday of May in Cocullo ( a suggestive village in the province of L'Aquila) , San Domenico is celebrated and, as for other traditions in which the pagan rite is intertwined with the Christian devotion, the same is applied on this occasion, when the devotion to St. Domenico, the patron from snake bites, is interwoven with the archaic ritual of "serpari", manipulators of snakes, in the evocative "Rite of Serpari".

For the festival the statue of the Saint is carried in procession, adorned with tangled serpents, harmless and very popular in the mountains around the village, including several species as mountain snakes, colubers, black colubers, ring snakes. The so-called snake-charmers collect the reptiles in the cold season, during their hibernation. Before the procession the "serpari" show the snakes to visitors, allowing people to touch and handle them, while folk songs are sung in the tiny streets of the village.

After the Mass, in the late morning, the statue of San Domenico is covered with snakes and the procession begins. The parade stretches through the narrow streets of Cucullo transmitting to participants suggestive and touching images. A different kind of day that reconciles the soul with nature, soothes the hearts with the suggestions that has a small unspoilt mountain village, leads to devotion mixed with folklore. The meeting with the serpari, the opportunity to touch a snake and overcome fears, huddling behind the statue of the Saint asking for aid for health, or simply sit on the edge, participate to a so special event inevitably arouses a deep thrill , which worth a try.

Saint Domenico statue is brought in procession through the narrow alleys of the medieval village, covered with live non-poisonous snakes ....

This rite comes from the pagan cult of goddess Angizia, protectress from poisons. Then it was converted in a Christian rite...

The Serpari Rite attracts people from all over the world to Cocullo , because of its uniqueness....

Girls in traditional costume, carrying baskets full of bread and victuals on their heads, follow San Domenico's statue ...