An Ancient Festival Embraces a Modern Miracle

Vicki Noble

Abstract

Three contemporary spring festivals celebrated in the mountain villages of Abruzzo, Italy, demonstrate the continuity of beliefs and rituals extending from ancient times to the present, just as Marija Gimbutas asserted decades ago. This paper focuses primarily on the festival of Santa Gemma, patron saint of the village of Goriano Sicoli. Gemma’s miraculous story comes from the fifteenth century, but was reinvigorated by the events following an earthquake in the region in the spring of 2009. Many of the visual motifs and ritual actions performed in the festival hark back to mythological themes from written history (such as the story of Demeter and Persephone), as well as pointing to much more ancient iconic imagery of Neolithic Old Europe. The other two festivals—a celebration of live snakes and a procession honoring the “virgins” of a village—continue the expression of ancient values and iconic motifs. In two of the three villages, it is a local “Madonna” who occupies center stage in the festivities, and the rituals are sanctified by local priests. All three festivals take place during the week of Beltane, one of the eight holy-days on the seasonal calendar of the year.