SAROLA AND ITS TRADITIONS

Sarola is rightly proud of its past and its customs, many of which - while restoring the values of a purely rural life - have survived the tides of time and are relived with a great sense of pride. On "Gioved“ Santo", Maundy Thursday, there is the celebration of the rites of the "Pasto" (repast) reserved to the men who are members of the "Confraternita dell'Annunziata" (a religious brotherhood).
The rites require that all the women of the village prepare a lean meal together in the kitchen (all on the base of fish) and serve it to the men gathered at a large table arranged in the form of a horseshoe.
There is a strict rule that the dishes served must be the same every year:
- Anchovies in extra virgin olive oil
- Pasta with a special sauce based on nuts and anchovies (the ingredients are kept a tight secret)
- Fried codfish in sweet and sour sauce
- Boiled codfish
- Three nuts per person
Also the seats at the table follow a strict order: at the head of the table are the most important honoured public figures of the village like the Mayor, the village priest and the doctor.

On Easter Monday, all inhabitants of the village gather together on a large green meadow in the midst of olive trees to hold a picnic, which is concluded with the opening of chocolate eggs in the children's company. In the past years, also many families from the neighbouring villages with their children have joined in these festivities.

On 22 January, the patron saint of the village is celebrated: San Vincenzo. In the afternoon, the entire population gathers in the church of Sarola, the sixteenth century "Chiesa di San Vincenzo e Anastasio" and during mass, the men pass through the "Via Prinicipale" (main road) carrying the statue of San Vincenzo on their shoulders, followed by the women reciting thanksgiving songs in a choir honouring their patron saint.

Finally, on the last weekend in May, the "Sagra di Santa Infanzia" is celebrated. At this event, Sarola opens its doors to inhabitants and tourists from all over the province. The festivities start on 7 p.m. with the opening of the gastronomic stalls: fried eel, "Fritelle" (pancakes) with onions or apples, meat spits, "Rostelle" (meat spits with lamb and goat meat) and snails are the most favourite dishes of the evening (everything is prepared by the youths of the Committee San Vincenzo); starting from 9 p.m., there is dance with a show orchestra until late at night. On Sunday afternoon, the festivities start all over again with games and animations for the whole family on the Piazza of the village and at 7 p.m. the food stalls open again. The evening is accompanied by a new dance orchestra.