Ancient traditions of Labro
The women at the spring
The ancient monumental water spring that can be found at the foothill of Labro can be traced back to the Middle Ages and has been restored in the year 1641. Up until the years after World War II was over, it stood as a place of gathering and meeting up for every women in town. It was there where they would bring the traditional basins and the «cercine», a crown made out of cloths used on the head to lay down on it the basin itself while making the way back to town by skillfully mainting the poise.
Gathered by the water spring, the womenfolk would chat and share tips among themselves.
The worship of Saint Dominic
An ancient trace regarding the worship of Saint Dominic, abbot and classic figure in the medieval world, can be found in Labro. The saint’s worship is well known in various areas of the Appennini, closely related to the protection against snake bites and animals afflicted by rabies, linked to the grand festivity held in May in Cocullo, in the province of L’Aquila.
The same ancient trace can be documented in one of the abandoned castels which were under the control of Labro, but also to other towns such as Apuleggia di Rivodutri and Leonessa; snakes would be gathered and brought inside churches during the day of the festival. Today, no trace can be found about that old cult.
The festival of Saint Anthony Abbot
A festival dedicated to Saint Anthony Abbot on January 17-th was celebrated in the plaza of the church Madonna della Neve annexed to the Franciscan Cloister; the festival was held to bless domestic animals by showing an effigy of the Saint, treasured inside the church.
During the occasion, a commitee patronising the festivities would offer a soup made of fava beans mixed with pork rinds for everyone to eat, as a token of prosperity for spring time. The tradition is no longer executed for several years now.
Saint Pancras, Patron Saint of Labro
The most important festivity of Labro is the one dedicated to Saint Pancras, an ancient roman martyr who lived in the IV century, remembered as a protector of children, people with skin diseases, of noble knights and harvesting.
The festival is celebrated on June 24, alongside Saint John the Baptist, forerunner to Jesus, invoked as a healer and saviour from the Evil. Up until a few years ago, the worship of Saint John the Baptist was linked to a rituality regarding the coming of summer. Nightly gatherings were performed to bring about a good result for harvesting; a peculiar virtue would be given to the dew and herbs gathered during that day. People would gather wildflowers as well and form small bunches of them to switch during the ceremony, as a symbol of tight bond between godmothers and godfathers.
