Feast of San Giovanni | San Miniato

On 23 June, Feast of St John, fires are lit on the lawn of the Rocca di San Miniato. From 9 p.m. onwards, adults and children alike will be given ‘rificolone‘, paper lanterns containing a candle, tied to a reed, used to light the way from the centre of San Miniato to the Rocca where the Tower (Rocca) stands.

Each rificolona will also be given the ‘mosca’, an ear of wheat tied with a head of garlic to the top of a reed. Once at the Tower, large bonfires will be lit to burn the garlic and the ear of wheat, according to an ancient pagan ritual with a dual meaning: to drive out evil spirits and to protect future harvests.

There will also be food stands offering snacks, barbecued sausages, bread and ham, wine and music.