The bonfire festival in Rocca San Casciano

Today we are in the province of Forlì-Cesena, in Rocca San Casciano, to get to know one of the most ancient Romagna traditions: the Bonfire Festival, which takes place every year on the first Sunday after Easter. The preparation of bonfires was formerly dedicated to St. Joseph, so that it would favor a good year for the harvest and ask for thanks. Even today the entire community of Rocca San Casciano, accompanied by countless spectators, gathers along the banks of the Montone river, divided by two supporters: the Borgo district and the Mercato district, to remember their traditions. The most evocative moment of the party takes place just when about twenty boys position themselves inside the gigantic haystacks and at the signal of the explosion of a firecracker, they support the flames of the torches, previously blessed in the church. The difficulty consists both in the rapidity of lighting and, primarily, in the strategy of closing the haystacks, elements that determine the best lighting and the consequent victory of one of the two districts. For some years, in addition to the fireworks display, allegorical floats have been set up that parade in the main pizza of the town together with hundreds of masked young people, from both districts. The show ends with an explosion of music and joy.