Bonfires in Puglia are one of the oldest customs in the area, carried on by local people for many centuries. To protect this form of celebration, the region has created the Apulia Fires Network, with the aim of promoting and enhancing a typically Apulian folkloric and distinctive trait.

Today bonfires are widespread everywhere in Apulia, but each locality is characterized by its own rituals united by a strong devotion and attachment to roots. In mythology, fire is a symbol of purification and vital energy. In fact, in the beginning the bonfire represented a pagan ceremony which punctuated seasonal cycles in agricultural societies, over time then converted into a religious manifestation with a Christian imprint. Not surprisingly, bonfires burn in the dark to ward off sadness, death and fear.

Currently only 3 archaic events fall under the Apulian Fire Network: the Fanove of Castellana Grotte, the Focara of Novoli and the Fracchie of San Marco in Lamis. In the meantime, however, efforts are being made to extend this network since the bonfire tradition is also present in other municipalities in Puglia.

The Fanove of Castellana Grotte

The Fanove of Castellana Grotte is one of the most beautiful and evocative bonfire festivals in Puglia, during which large stacks of wood (fanove) burn throughout the town. The event is held in honor of Mary Most Holy of the Vetrana On the night of Jan. 11. In all, about 100 bonfires are burning, spread from the center to the outlying districts.

The festival has been repeated nonstop for centuries, in a lively atmosphere of devotion meant to evoke the miracle that took place in 1691, when Our Lady of Vetrana saved the town from the 'plague epidemic that raged in the area. Since that day, the citizens of Castellana Grotte have been celebrating his memory with an evening accompanied by folk songs and Apulian food specialties.

The Focara of Novoli

The Focara di Novoli is another evocative bonfire festival held in Novoli, in the province of Lecce, in honor of St. Anthony Abbot, patron saint of the village. Between January 7 and 18, a unique and immense bonfire is lit composed of bundles of vine shoots that touch 22 meters in height and diameter. This huge pile is appunta called a "focara" and its origin dates back to the 18th century, although other sources place it as far back as the 15th century.

The idea of using vine shoots originated from the pruning of vineyards, thanks to which such bundles are made up. In the beginning the focara had a conical shape, but over the years it was decided to give it a more scenic appearance. At the top of the pile on the morning of the eve of the feast is placed the icon of the saint that will burn with the bonfire. This is the founding element of the celebration, in which the sacred and the profane merge.

The Fracchie of San Marco in Lamis

In San Marco in Lamis, near Foggia, the centuries-old festival of fracchie takes place every year. Fracchie are nothing more than flashlights of different sizes that on Good Friday evening illuminated the path of Our Lady of Sorrows carried in procession.

The largest flashlights can reach 10-12 meters in length, with a mouth up to 2 meters wide. They are constructed from a log cut lengthwise and then filled with brushwood, splinters, branches and branches, until a conical-shaped bonfire is composed, resting on iron carts. The ancient ritual dates back to the 18th century, when the church of the Our Lady of Sorrows Was outside the walls and was unlit.

It was therefore necessary to add lighting so that the Holy Week procession could take place. For that purpose, these flashlights were born to escort the Virgin along the route. Over the centuries, the Feast of the Fracchie of San Marco in Lamis has become a fixed and unmissable date for Easter rites.

Other fire festivals in Apulia

The three fire festivals just mentioned only the best known and renowned ones in Apulia, but there are also other cities that have kept alive the bonfire tradition. In fact, the region has identified as many as 12 events involving fires as the most representative of local folklore.

Among these we have Putignano, where on the eve of St. Lucy various bonfires are lit at the most important points in the town. During the feast of St. Anthony the Abbot also in Giovinazzo several bonfires are set on fire, accompanied by live music and food and wine products.

Also very impressive are the St. Joseph's fires in Cattle which also date back to pagan rituals. Not coincidentally, the festival coincides with the spring equinox and the bonfires symbolize the rebirth of nature and purification. A Corato on St. Lucy's Day a massive woodpile is erected, around which a special gastronomic tour is organized to taste the best products of the area. Other fire festivals include:

• Sant'Antoni te le Focare in Cutrofiano
• The Focara in honor of St. Anthony Abbot in Guagnano
• La Focareddhra de Sa' Vicenzu in Miggiano
• The fires of St. Andrew in Presicce-Acquarica
• St. Joseph's Fire in Carrese di Chieuti
• The fires of St. Anthony the Abbot in Rocchetta Sant'Antonio