Feast of San Giovanni | San Miniato

On 23 June, the 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, which are used to light the way from the centre of San Miniato to the Rocca where the Tower of Frederick 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.

To close, the launching of ‘lanterns’. There will also be food stands offering snacks, barbecued sausages, bread and ham, wine and music.

The Fuochi di San Giovanni open the ‘NERO D’ESTATE’ season and anticipate the II EXHIBITION MARKET OF THE BLACK TRUFFLE OF SAN MINIATO, scheduled for the following day.