San Severo in Apulia region is famous for its festival held on the third Sunday of May. The so-called Festa del Soccorso, Festival of Help and Aid, it is held in honor of the patron saints of San Severo, the Madonna of Help, Saint Severinus Abbot, and Saint Severus Bishop.

During this festival, San Severo features both night and day fireworks in order to celebrate the Madonna; the daytime fireworks are a major attraction and are placed along the city streets. A common practice is for young males to run along the firecrackers as they explode down the street: these people are called “fuejentes” (people who enjoy running through the fireworks). For this reason San Severo is called “the city of fireworks”.

Watch the short video here http://www.ansa.it/sito/videogallery/curiosita/2015/05/21/la-folle-corsa…


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