Gigli di Nola - Italy
The origins of the Nola Gigli Festival are still debated; as they could be the mutation of a pagan ritual linked to the summer solstice, or, according to a local legend passed from generation to generation, the celebration for the return of San Paolino. It’s only around 1500 that we start to find proper documentation about the history of this festival, during which 25m tall obelisks, made of wood and papier-mâché and weighing around 30qt, are placed on the so-called Gigli and carried on shoulders by several men. These men, called collatori, create a group called paranza, each of which is led by a capo-paranza and four comandanti (commanders). On each Giglio there’s a music band that gives the rhythm to the collatori and plays during the final dance in the Piazza Duomo, at the end of the parade.
