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San Francesco di Paola

San Francesco di Paola

Forio from 01/05 to 05/05
About fifteen years ago the celebrations in honor of St. Francesco took place a fortnight after Easter, but often had to be postponed due to bad weather, so here is the decision to celebrate the first Sunday of May. On Thursday evening Mass is celebrated with a preacher come from outside, for the three days of preparation. On Friday, after Mass, the committee organizes a party for the children with the participation of animation. On Saturday afternoon a band passes through the streets of the district, from Via F. Calise continuing toward the viewpoint of Gancia and then arrive in the courtyard of the church. At Mass terminated begins their concert.
On Sunday Masses were celebrated for most of the day, in the afternoon after the celebration of Mass brings the relic of the saint in a procession to the beach where you honors lives lost in the sea placing a wreath at sea and returns to behind. For the detention of the faithful, a band gives a concert at the end of the fireworks show begins.
The statue of the saint is carried in procession only on a few occasions, the next time will be in 2007 will be carried in procession on the occasion of 500 years of his death.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve

Forio on 24/12

In winter Ischia becomes a little crib, the days are characterized by sirocco, the west or the north wind, the three prevailing winds that affect the days of the islanders. Nuts, sweet dried figs in the hot sun of summer, the Rococo, a glass of new wine, a dash of nocillo or homemade limoncello, a game of cards in front of the crackling fireplace, the confusion of the bingo family and other still, are the main features of a company that returns its values ​​millennial friendliness, warmth and tradition. Day by day in homes with small gestures remember the great feast of the Nativity, are preparing Christmas trees, gathers moss in the woods for the crib, you decorate the houses and gardens with thousands of lights, the pipers playing old songs, all become good and kind, in the streets of the small villages there is an air of festivity in the evening we meet to chat, play old songs and strum on the floor of one of the few places open. The major festival is nearby, as Leopardi, in his poems, even for Christmas, the day before the party is certainly the most beautiful and exciting. As tradition begins the night of the twenty-four, for the younger one is up all night to play, sing, dance and tell jokes until dawn, when the country wakes up and finds himself suspended in time to repeat rituals and traditions centennial. The beautiful Forio to the West in Ischia Ponte and Ischia Ponte to the east are already awake before dawn, the squares fill in front of the crowded churches for the celebration of the Christmas novena dawn fishermen sell the typical fish, eels, moray eels , molluscs and fish prized for the dinner of Christmas Eve. In Forio immediately after the procession is traditional to eat pasta and beans and garlic prepared by many volunteers who cheer tourists and villagers. So begins a day of rejoicing that will end in the evening after dinner and bingo with Midnight Mass will announce the birth of Jesus and remember the man and the journey still to go.

The Angel's Run

The Angel's run

Forio at Easter
The Angel’s run, takes place in Forio, an ancient tradition dating back to the distant 1600. It’s a holy representation that plays the moment of encounter with the risen son of the Virgin Mary. The event is organized by Arciconfraternita of Forio, guardian of the four statues that carry on their shoulders in procession, by tradition, always by the same families for an unwritten law that has been passed down from father to son, and many times because of disputes between lit the families to claim the same.
The statues represented in the procession are: Madonna, the Risen Christ, St. John the Apostle and the Angel. The first three ones were carved in wood by an artisan from Naples between 1756 and 1757, while the Angel was sculpted by Vincenzo Mollica and covered with gold leaf.
On Easter morning, before the start of the procession, the Madonna, with a white veil over her face, and St. John are placed at the crossroads of the main course of Forio. Christ and the Angel at the end of the Mass, go in procession to form a small procession with the standard blue and white plume of ostrich feathers, the cross of the brotherhood and the clergy.
Arrived near the fountain, a choir, made up of powerful voices from the fishermen and the people turning to the risen Christ, sing the "Regina Coeli", thus beginning the function. The Angel makes three bows to the risen Christ and runs to the Virgin Mary to announce the resurrection of his son, arrived at the crossroads repeats the Regina Coeli, by the farmers and the people, at the end of the Angel bowing three times to the Virgin Mary and runs towards Christ. All this is repeated for three times. The last race of the Angel stops under the bell tower of the church of Santa Maria di Loreto and the Madonna and St. John make their way over to reach the statue of Christ. Half way you slide the veil from the face of the Madonna, in representation of the vision of the Son, and the whole course is filled with flower petals thrown from the balconies in a blaze of chants and cheers.
By tradition, the one who brings the plume in procession, must lower it three times without touching the feathers on the ground, so you do not lose the right to lead the pernacchio the next processions.

Video Angel's run in Forio

Photogallery of Angel's run in Forio island of Ischia

Wine festival

Wine Festival

Forio from 04/11 to 30/11
We wanted to celebrate. And feast was, that one of the peasant, true, with the new wine flowed, the burning embers to roast chestnuts and toasted bread with tomatoes and olive oil, the tarantella - and not only - ballad rhythm guitar and piano. And then beans and pizzas for everyone: each, up the short steep climb to get to the cave-cellar, carrying something, like the Magi, because the party was not just the wine.
The Pietratorcia company that stretches its vineyards between Forio and Panza, in a sunny location close to Mount Epomeo overlooking the lighthouse at Punta Imperatore, has called across the country, the islanders and friends to tap wine again this year promises to be excellent.
It’ s an event that now takes place every year in the summer of S. Martin, when all must becomes wine' and more and more manufacturers, growers, but especially those who love the new wine - that perhaps can still be defined, but that brings joy and happiness - that do not want to miss this opportunity offered by the generosity of the Pietratorcia Cellars.
And here's the first drink that is greeted with applause: ruby red with violet hues, fruity with hints of raspberry and blueberry, transparent, fresh, new wine Pietratorcia is ideal for white meats and soft cheeses
"It 's very good, and this year the harvest was abundant", say in unison Vito Verde, president of the comapany, Vito Iacono and Bartolo Regine that, together with their families are working to ensure a quality product, which has crossed national borders.
But before you begin the feast, a time of thanksgiving and meditation with the blessing of Father Augustine, who invites all to pray, while waves of friends continue to fill the space set up buffet: beams covered with tablecloths placed on piles of boxes accommodate the many delicacies that some peasant women in costume carry on their heads in baskets, in the manner of a time, including large steel vats and equipment in a band, quickly passed from the classic Neapolitan song to disco music. Then the joy given by the wine and the products of the countryside makes everyone wild, young and old, grandparents and grandchildren, dances, late night ...
In short, old and new, tradition and innovation, in the name of friendship and wine.

by Alessandra Giordano