The bonfires of the beginning of the year are a popular tradition of north-eastern Italy. The custom derives from purifying and propitiatory rites of Celtic origin. The Celts lit fires to ingratiate themselves with the divinity and burned a puppet representing the past. As the bonfire burned, the peasants in a circle shouted and sang.

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Size: 3819px × 2555px
Location: Cadoneghe, Veneto, Italy
Photo credit: © Ferdinando Piezzi / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: bonfire, bonfires, celtic, festival, italy, north-eastern, origin, origins, pagan, peasant, popular, propitiatory, purifying, rites, tradition, veneto