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.

---

Size: 3872px × 2592px
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