Fiaccole di Natale or Festival of Christmas Torches, 24 December, Abbadia di San Salvatore, near Montalcino.
It is an ancient and evocative tradition. There are 200 various actors involved in the presentation and the town dedicates all its resources for the performance. The origin of the "torches" is made to go back to the time in which the inhabitants of the villages scattered around to the Abbey of the San Salvatore, ignited fires in order to heat themselves. The "Ceremony of ignition of the torches" has beginning at 18,00 hours in front of the Communal Palace with the blessing of the Fire, the band sound Christmas songs and the two torches in front of the Town hall come ignited. From the heads torch with their torch’s ignited go to giving fire to the other torches scattered in the historical center and the other zones of the town. Beyond 40 torches stacks of obtained firewood from the surrounding forests, will burn until the dawn. The narrow roads are covered the night from a continuous itinerate procession of torch in torch, singing Christmas songs, "the shepherds", and as the night is left over, there are prepared typical stands for the wine tasting and local gastronomic products. This ancient tradition creates a point of meeting for the inhabitants and the tourists with approximately 20.000 persons.

For more information visit

• http://www.comune.abbadia-san-salvatore.si.it/