Mystery rites of the Apulian tableau
To the detriment of those who still believe that the holiday of Halloween does not belong to the Mediterranean culture, the night between November 1 and 2 in the small village of Orsara is as close as it gets to the festival of Celtic origin.
In Orsara, in fact, the Festa delle Fucacoste e Cocce Priatorije is held: the lighting goes out at dusk and small bonfires are lit in the streets, around which people gather. The small fires show the deceased the way to heaven and give comfort to their wandering souls. On this occasion, memorial gourds are prepared for the dead by lighting them with candles.
Not far away, in San Nicandro Garganico, the traditional procession of the souls of the dead is held on the night of November 1. Here, too, popular belief has it that the souls return to re-embrace their loved ones.
Dante's Inferno in the caves of castellana
For those who like to celebrate Halloween in a more contemporary way but still with an eye on the past, Hell in the Cave at the Castellana C aves is an emotion to be experienced.
A show that mixes theater, dance and lights, in which the spectator becomes part of hell, identifying with Dante and listening to voices and narratives of the most important sinful souls of Dante's hell.
The villages of the Valle d'Itria
Another idea for the All Saints' Day bridge in Puglia is the Valle d'Itria. In fact, the hilly area that stretches from Ostuni to Cisternino is one of the most enchanting and evocative places in the region, thanks to the beauty of its views and unspoiled nature. The area is rich in forests shrouded in a halo of mystery, perfect for spending Halloween night there.
Locorotondo, moreover, with its particular narrow streets, in the evenings around Halloween night, is cloaked in magic and mystery, thanks to the decorations set up for the occasion.
The mysteries of Salento
Salento is also an area rich in mysteries and rituals dedicated to All Saints' Eve. In Massafra in the province of Taranto, tradition has it that, on the night between October 31 and November 1, the streets of the village have as their protagonists the dead who, with a flame on their finger, wander around the village.
Today, in celebration of the ancient legend, on Halloween night, ion town is held levento Massafra in the Middle Ages on the night of the masciari, during which magicians and fakirs animate the streets of the historic center.
A 1,100-year-old fair , on the other hand, is the one held between Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in Carpignano Salentino . It was once held in the fields, among the olive trees, in the shade of which seeds, textiles, agricultural products and useful goods were exchanged at the gates of winter. The fair represented one of the last opportunities for social life before the cold season.
Today the fair is held downtown. The focus is still agricultural tools, which are complemented by local handicrafts and goods of all kinds.
Experiencing Puglia in autumn
Heading to Puglia and its magical beauty in late October also means taking advantage of the beautiful days and mild weather that so many parts of the area still offer in late autumn.
Many days are still clear and in the warmer hours you can take the opportunity for an off-season swim in the sea, enjoying the semi-deserted beach. Thanks to BarbarHouse, in fact, this is the right time to find the best bargains among vacation rentals in Salento.
Instead, if you want to combine the beauty of the sea with folkloristic traditions, you can opt for one of the many vacation homes in Valle d'Itria and its surroundings, Among fairy-tale woods and enchanted villages you will be able to experience chilling atmospheres.
