San Pardo and the Carrese of Larino

Discover

Three days of celebration among oxen, floats and crepe paper flowers

Many events take place in Italian municipalities, and Molise is no exception, and among the most heartfelt are certainly the patron saints’ days. In this regard, Larino, with its Carrese in honor of patron saint San Pardo, is one of the most welcoming, as well as long, lasting a full three days.

In fact, the festivities in honor of St. Pardo last a full three days, from May 25 to 27. The festival is a tribute to the translation of the Saint’s body brought from Apulia on a float decorated with flowers and pulled by a pair of oxen.

The main feature are the wagons (as many as 120!), centuries old and decorated with crepe paper flowers (a typical Larino production) pulled by oxen, as majestic as they are docile.

Carrese Program

The festival, as mentioned, lasts three days. During the first one, on May 25, the procession, starting from the historic center, reaches St. Leonard’s plane and stops at the cemetery to take the statue of St. Primian, co-patron of the city, as a sign of invitation to the feast for St. Leopard. At night the floats return to the historic center, giving rise to one of the most characteristic processions.

On the second day, May 26, the parade takes place only in the historic center. At the end is the procession with thirteen saints.

On May 27, the last day of the festival, the parade, starting from the old town, returns again to the cemetery to bring back the statue of St. Primian. Here it stops for a picnic and meal all together. At the end, it returns to the historic center to end the three-day celebration with the arrival at the Cathedral.