Le Focareddhe (Saint Anthony Abbot)

The fire that opens the Gallipoli Carnival

The Focareddhe are among the most cherished rituals in Gallipoli, a town in the province of Lecce overlooking the Ionian Sea. Every year, on the evening of January 17th, the feast of Saint Anthony Abbot, large bonfires are lit in the historic center using wood gathered from the fields: olive branches from pruning and vine shoots, stacked in a traditional "pagliata" style. By tradition, this fire signals the start of Gallipoli's long carnival season.

Sant'Antoni te lu focu

The ritual is dedicated to Saint Anthony Abbot, affectionately known in the Salento dialect as «Sant'Antoni te lu focu» (Saint Anthony of the fire) and «Sant'Antoni te lu porcu» (Saint Anthony of the pig), as he is depicted with a small pig at his feet, being the protector of domestic animals. Popular legend links him to the myth of Prometheus: he is said to have descended into hell to bring fire back to humanity, a gesture of love toward people and animals alike.

Between the sacred and the profane

Beneath the Christian devotion lie pagan roots: the purifying fire held the power to cleanse the community of its sins and mark the transition into a new yearly cycle. In the past, ashes scattered from the city walls were believed to "calm the wrath of the sea" and ensure the safe return of fishermen. Around the bonfires, lit at the crossroads of the old town, people would dance to the rhythm of pizzica, blending meanings that range from courtship to infernal imagery of fire.

A recognized identity ritual

The Focareddhe represent "a vital piece of the city's identity" and are included, along with other Salento fire rituals, in the Puglia Region's register of Fire Rituals. The lighting, organized by the Municipality of Gallipoli through the Department of Tourism and Entertainment, is traditionally accompanied by Salento folk music and marks the first event in the calendar of the Historic Carnival of Gallipoli, one of the oldest in Puglia alongside those of Putignano and Manfredonia.