La Candelora and San Biagio

In Fontevecchia

 
Sunday 2 February 2025 h. 10.30 - Info: 331/6796820

A basket with Taralli, devotional anise desserts, and, next to the blessed candles, which will be used for the ritual of the blessing of the throat. The ritual of the candlestick in the village Trojan case returns on Sunday 2 February, where, as the tradition wants, the popular altar will be set up with the ancient Abruzzo blanket, basket with candles and the classic taralli alice and with the sugar for the candle. , festival felt by the people especially in the countryside and rural centers as the Fontevecchia association recalls. (photo 1 blessing throat)

The Taralli of San Biagio, particularly widespread in the Pescara, are prepared with devotion by the Abruzzo massage, and, brought to church to be blessed on the day dedicated to the saint. There are sweet and savory variants, however their donut shape is essential that symbolically remembers the throat, of which San Biagio is protector.
The blessed Taralli during the religious functions of February 3, are distributed to relatives and friends so that they can consume them and receive the protection of the saint. Once upon a time they were considered miraculous for the healing of the goiter, that is the enlargement of the thyroid. (Photo 2 Tarallli and candles basket)

San Biagio, doctor and bishop of Sebaste, in Asia Minor, having refused to give up the Christian faith, died beheaded in 316 after being torn with iron combs, which are used to card the wool. During his imprisonment he miraculously saved a young man who had stuck a fish bone in his throat, for which he is venerated as a protector of all the affections related to the throat and wool in memory of his martyrdom.
In Abruzzo, on the day of San Biagio, called "Lu Garehazzùte" (from Gargarozzo, Gola), especially in the mountain areas and in the countryside it is traditional to recite the saying "for San Biagio, the myth, the cold went" as a hope for the End of the winter cold and the arrival of the first tiles of spring. (Photo 3 Santino)

The Candelora and the cult of San Biagio are strongly felt in Abruzzo, so much so that it is the patron of Alanno, Bussi and Castiglione in Casauria, only in the province of Pescara. Without forgetting that in Penne the saint's skull is revered, it is part of the treasure of S. Domenico and is kept behind the main altar. It contains a worked cap that houses the skull of S. Biagio (photo 4 Cranio San Biagio). To access the relic need seven keys, all of the period, which were once in different hands: one era of the friars, two of the magistrate and four of as many gentlemen of the city (photo 5 San Biagio keys). In the Cathedral of San Flaviano in Giulianova the arm of San Biagio is kept, enclosed in a silver reliquary made in the shape of a blessing arm and with a palm between the fingers, symbol of the martyrdom of 1394 (photo 6 relics arm). And the tradition of the festival is also widespread in Taranta Peligna, where the 'panicelle' are prepared, that is, the hand -shaped breads that are distributed among the citizens, and, finally, in Lettomanoppello.

Fontevecchia has always honored the anniversary of the saint protector of the throat, respecting a simple ritual, but well rooted for the party, called 'Biasciore'. During the day, an altar with the classic Benedetti Tarallli (photo 7 - Altare di San Biagio) is set up inside one of the foundations of the village. Next to the devotional basket the white candles are positioned, also blessed on the day of the candle, on February 2, a popular feast of the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and which also recalls the presentation at the Temple of Jesus. Usually the candles are used precisely on 2 February in the procession that precedes the Mass, where the candle is the symbol of Christ 'Luce to illuminate the people' (photo 8 blessing).
Biagio was a poor man and had a heart full of charitable feelings. Every day he went to the Church and told Jesus Christ: "Jesus Christ my, why don't you give me some stuff? I would like to help poor people. On February 3 he went to the Church to do the usual prayer; and as soon as He ended it, he appeared to him Jesus Christ, who spread his hand, lengthened the index and passed it on to the throat. He entered a house and found a child sick of throat, who could almost no longer breathe. When he died, he was sanctified and became the protector of the patients of Gola. swallow) ... so the patient tried to swallow while the devotee with his thumb marked many crosses in the wrist and then tightened him 

Still by pressing it with strength and pronouncing this litany:

"Sante Biasce, de nine fratelle,
And de nine rowste to eight,
And de Otto remote to seven,
And de seven remote to six,
And de sei remastel in cinche,
And de Cinche remote in Quattre,
And de quattre remote to three,
And de Tre Remaste a da ',
And de du 'remastet to une:
Sante Biasce, squaglie ste Cagliune! "

The operation was repeated nine times, and ended saying:

"Ji te segne and die tea healthy."
(San Biagio, of nine brothers,
And nine remained at eight,
And eight left with seven ec. ec.
San Biagio, measures these glands!
I sign you - I make you the mark of the cross - and God you healthy)


In Pianella, in the Pescara, however, the following nursery rhyme is recited:

“Curre Curre Cannelore
cà mò arrohue biascièle,
if ce does not do and if there is it it rains
stome 'mmézze a lu huérne' bbone,
If there is lu sunshalle
Stome 'Mmézze in Vernarille,
if there is lu sun 'bbone
From there 'mmérne stome forest ".

Basket of taralli and candles
On the day of San Biagio the same candles are used for the ritual of the blessing of the throat as well as in Lanciano, in the province of Chieti, in the homonymous and ancient church. At the end of the day they are brought home, one per family, where they are kept and turned on to invoke divine protection during thunderstorms, hailstorms and other events to protect those who could find themselves in dangerous conditions. And in fact every family, Sunday, will bring a Tarallo and a candle to its home. As always, of the Fontevecchia Association is to search and bring to light ancient uses and customs, sometimes lost traditions and which instead had a great meaning, ritual as well as religious, for our grandparents. (Photo 9 Basket of Taralli and Candles)

Sources:

Abruzzo uses of Antonio De Nino, 1879
Abruzzaturismo.it
Greek candid, from splendor in the Pennese abruzzo, calendar of 1985
Wordmente.it, from San Biagio Legends and traditions to Abruzzo di Remo di Leonardo
San Biagio in Abruzzo, Rocco Carabba publisher
Abruzzo.no edited by Venusia Vinciguerra
Gelsumino.it, the air of Penne


Images:

Fontevecchia photographic archive
Myriam Sacred Art (Santino)