Festival of the snake-catchers
festival snake catcher snakecharmers festa dei serpari di cocullo annual festival held may cocullo italy honour st dominic di sora patron saint protecting snakebite toothache origin date back paganism root ancient celebration honour roman goddess angitia festival involves procession carrying statue st dominic draped live snake street village mass statue st dominic di sora brought paraded street completely covered snake followed serpari hereditary brotherhood local snakecharmers also draped snake festival prechristian root related much older rite snake deity angitia pagan time snakecharmers priest sanctuary angitia snake associated healing cocullo territory marsi known magic art power serpent festival nominated cultural ceremony protected unesco