The Feast of St. Euphemia in Irsina

Among the oldest traditions of the town of Irsina is the feast of St. Euphemia, which is celebrated every year in September. The rituals open with the handing over of the keys of the town to the bishop by civil and military authorities. The bishop will in turn hand over the keys to the city's guardian, St. Euphemia, in front of the cathedral forecourt. At the end of the sacred rite, a long procession begins through the streets of the town, carrying on the shoulders the statue of the Saint, the relic of her arm and the icon of Mary H.H. Mother of Divine Providence. Another particularly anticipated moment is the traditional "pizzicantò," a game in which two teams are arranged in a circle on a double plane to form a human pyramid in which five people serve as the base and four others climb on their shoulders. Wide circular turns are made, singing typical songs in dialect. The one who stays balanced wins!