The Feast of San Zopito, Loreto Aprutino

This is special. A genuflecting white ox dressed in colourful ribbons, a child dressed as an angel, the relics of a saint and a tradition that dates back to 1711. Pentecost Sunday is coming up and with it comes the Feast of San Zopito in Loreto Aprutino, Pescara.

The saint’s feast day is actually on the Monday following Pentecost, but the celebrations and pageantry are played out over two days, Pentecost and the following day, Monday.

The town is thronged with people who wait for the arrival of the ox, il bue.  With a young child dressed as an angel on its back, it is led through the narrow streets of the old town, il centro storico, to various key churches, where it kneels, and then moves onwards and upwards, winding its way to the church of San Pietro Apostolo which sits at one end of Via Del Baio.  This is were the relics of San Zopito are kept.

When I was at the celebrations in 2008, two of the most significant houses of Loreto Aprutino also opened their doors to the public.  The first was the house of the Acerbo family who also run a fantastic Bed and Breakfast called Lauretum.  The second was the house of Valentini, one of the most important wine producers in the region, perhaps even in Italy.  Both of these houses are also on Via Del Baio and offer wonderful views of the surrounding countryside.

The reason for this most unusual ritual is that in 1711 the relics of San Zopito were being transported from the Catacombs in Rome through the countryside to Loreto Aprutino.  A farmer, working in the fields, ignored the procession and continued working. An ox, however, recognised the power of the relics, stopped pulling its plough and got down on its knees! There is more to the legend which involves a miracle recovery of a sick relative of the farmer, but I’m a bit hazy on the details. 

Here are a selection of pictures that will give you a feel for this very special festival.  Some I took, and some were taken by my friend Lino. Did I forget to mention the costumes and horses?

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3. The Festa di San Zopito 2010 and How I Missed the Killer Shot! Let’s get the killer shot business out of the way...