The feast of San Rocco in Palmi

The devotion linking San Rocco to Palmi dates back to 1656 and the terrible plague that struck the inhabitants, who, exhausted by the disease, asked for the intercession of the saint who cured them. Since then, on August 16 each year San Rocco in Palmi has been at the center of grand celebrations that represent one of the most engaging moments for the community, a unicum that captivates visitors, worshippers and anthropological scholars alike. It begins in the morning, to the sound of beating drums accompanying the figures of the Giants, Mata and Grifone, the large papier-mâché puppets that evoke ancient Saracen exploits. The Dance of the Giants accompanies the faithful on their way to the Church of the Immaculate Conception to pay homage to the statue of St. Roch of Palmi. In the afternoon, the procession takes place, followed by the characteristic procession of the "spinati": 200 figures arranged in two rows who wear on their heads the "spalas," a bell made of woven broom, and proceed barefoot and bare-chested, with the effigy of the saint on their chests. After four hours of walking, the procession ends with a fireworks display.