Fires of Devotion: Le Farchie of Fara Filiorum Petri

A series of evocative black-and-white photographs documenting “Le Farchie” of Fara Filiorum Petri, Italy — a dramatic and deeply symbolic celebration held each January in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot. These towering cylindrical bundles of reeds, painstakingly assembled by the villagers, are erected and set ablaze in a powerful display of devotion, unity, and ancestral tradition.
The photographic series captures the tension and grace of the event: the preparation of the farchie in the crisp winter air, the physical strain of raising them upright, and the awe-inspiring moment when fire consumes the structures, lighting up the Abruzzo sky. Faces illuminated by flame, hands weathered by work, and the rhythmic pulse of folklore echo throughout the frames.
Together, these images offer a visual homage to a ritual that bridges generations — a fiery spectacle born of faith, rural resilience, and the enduring identity of a close-knit community.