The feast of San Giuliano in Pollina

Pollina - Today we are talking about the patronal feast of San Giuliano. This tradition is in fact very ancient: we only have news starting from 1613 when the relic of San Giuliano was donated. Until 1818 the festival took place on January 27, later it was moved to May 10 due to the cold and the immediate agricultural festival. To date, since 1979, following a popular referendum, it has been celebrated for three consecutive days in July, the second Sunday of the month and the two previous days.

The festival is characterized by the long rural procession that sees the statue of the saint as the protagonist. The latter is carried by twenty porters dressed in a white shirt, a waistcoat, black velvet trousers and a back-knotted scarf typical of the place, the 'cinceddra', and hand-sewn cotton shoes, in some cases even a bare feet. After the journey through the streets of the town, the procession moves through the vegetation, in Piano Sant'Antonio. On the way back to the church, they pass by the fields for the Saint to bless them. In ancient times cows and donkeys were adorned for festivities, today during the procession you can admire the faithful who bring gifts and candles to be given to the Saint in the Mother Church. All this is accompanied by music and religious songs.