The Focara di Novoli, (16th -18th January 2016) one of Europe's biggest and most spectacular winter festivals, ushers in the New Year with an ambitious programme that incorporates both local and international dimensions. The Focara, a gigantic bonfire in honour of
St. Anthony the Abbot, rises to a height of 25m and has involved the entire population of the town in its preparation ever since the first week of December.
The midwinter fire festival has ancient roots, but officially it was consecrated to Sant'Antonio Abate, an Egyptian hermit and founder of the first Christian monastic community sometime around the beginning of the '700. Sant'Antonio Abate is the protector of animals and farmers and the patron saint of Novoli, a town of 8,500 inhabitants near Lecce (Puglia), who hold the saint in particular devotion. Traditionally, the festival is a religious event, with the bonfire representing the sacred fire of purification.
Creating the gigantic dimensions of the pyramidical pyre requires the skill of teams of local volunteers who interlock thousands of twisted branches of vine cuttings to form a solid structure measuring 20m in diameter at the base. Gradually, as the pile mounts higher and higher, the stackers make their precarious way up long wooden ladders to add more and more bundles of twigs till the bonfire reaches the required height. The gigantic conflagration will be be set alight on the eve of St. Anthony's Day, the 17th January, and will continue to burn for many days afterwards.
An important part of the Festival is the annual arts programme FocaraArte. The 2016 edition, coordinated by local artist Francesca Mele, who also designed this year's poster inspired by the mystical aspect of the event, features famous creators like Gianfranco Baruchello This year's guest artist invited to portray the message of the great fire, Baruchello has visualized fifty flags to be carried by local schoolchildren around the bonfire, as a symbol of peace and the unity of nations. Other artists who will participate in the Festival include Guatemala poet and artist Regina Josè Galindo, Antonio Romano, Design Ambassador and Honorary Member of the International Trademark Center and the celebrated award-winning Iranian photo-reporter Manoocher Deghati.
Music events in the town square will enliven the three days between the 16th - 18th January, featuring top contemporary Italian and international performers, as well as the Fire Concert by Francesco Libetta. The Fcara also hosts the National Fireworks contest on the 17th January.
The event continues to draw crowds year after year and Focara di Novoli Foundation expect to exceed last year's participation of 200,000.
Margaret Stenhouse
Info. Tel. ++39.0832.712695 www.fondazionefocara.com
