Focare or focareddhre usually take place on the 19th of March in honor of St. Joseph, but customs vary from village to village. The term indicates according to tradition, a great bonfire in which all the firewood that has not been used in winter, is burned.

The focare have a very high symbolic value, they are connected, in fact, to ancient propitiatory rites of purification made with the fire and ancient pagan ceremonies which the Church has Christianized linking them to cult of St. Joseph. According to tradition, the focare were lit by people to heat the poor saint who had nothing.

The tradition of the Focare is perpetuated during popular festivities, but the the most important among all is that of Novoli, held on the 17th of January in honor of St. Antonio, whose realization undertakes all citizens and whose show attracts curious from around Italy and not only.

For the construction of a Focara need about 100 skilled people to stay for hours standing on long stairs and pass over the head the bundle of firewood which then reach the top and are perfectly fitted by the manufacturer.

Focara

With the passage of time  many habits have changed and especially the forms of Focara, which no longer appears in the form of a cone as in most ancient times, but takes different forms and always very demanding: a pyramid or a cake ( several circular superimposed layers) with a tunnel in the center of the bonfire.

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