Overview
The ancient and fascinating tradition of the water of San Giovanni, linked to the night of June 23, is an experience to be discovered in the province of Latina. On the shortest night of the year and on its longest day, the seaside village of Formia and the ancient village of Fontana Vecchia in Priverno keep the ancient ritual alive for centuries.
It was customary for the fishermen of Formia, in the past, to enter the nearest sea mirror, because popular belief attributed thaumaturgic powers to the waters. In our days we only wet our feet after midnight to ward off evil and protect ourselves from pain. Who knows what works!
In Fontana Vecchia, instead, a long procession is given to draw miraculous water, with a thousand beneficial properties for the respiratory system and for the skin, it seems. According to legend, St. John's water was blessed by the saint himself, and its healing power derives from the fact that it absorbed positive energy.
Many other villages celebrate this tradition in different ways. For example, the village of Norma organizes a parade of allegorical floats decorated with flowers and fruit, while the village of Maenza hosts an ancient fair with typical products and local crafts.
04023 Formia LT, Italia
