Abruzzo News: 14 May 2000

This Sunday the traditional festival will celebrate the historical victory on the army of Chieti. The traditional waggons of the bed, bread, fire and wine will start parading in the morning, then at 18 the exchange of the "ramajetto" (bunch of flowers) between a Banderese and a Sergentiere and at 18.30 the "ciammaichella" show. The festival will continue on 24, 25 and 26 May.

Scientists from Italy, France, Britain and Spain will meet at the Negri Sud Institute to study the beneficial effects of red wine. The project, under the name of 'Wine and cardiuvascular diseases' will try to establish scientifically the merits of the poliphenols in red wine as anti-oxidizing, anti-inflammatory agents in the life-long protection against thrombosis and atherosclerosis.

Since time immemorial on the second Sunday in May people from Vacri walked by night for 25 km to the sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie, to seek protection for their harvests against hail. The families of Francavilla will offer them refreshments and a little rest, according to the tradition. After the religious celebrations the pilgrims will walk all the way back.

Two endangered macaone species are reproducing in the Reserve of Lago di Penne. Students and university professors are working in cataloguing the butterflies and studying their nocturnal flight. The great event was possible thanks to the establishment three years ago of a "Garden of Butterflies" where the lepidoctera are protected against herbicides and pesticides.

Band music, majorettes and games yesterday, liscio and Latin American dancing by night. Today a concert and in the afternoon a cycling competition along the itinerary Popoli, Vittorito, Raiano, Corfinio, Popoli, for a total 63 km. At 18 procession with the saint's statue and at midnight fireworks to close the celebrations.

The tour of Bussi folk group to Belgium, performing religious songs and the great repertoire from the abruzzese and neapolitan traditions, was greatly acclaimed in Marcinelle and Charleroi, especially among the numerous Abruzzese community. The Bussi choir is directed by maestro Devino Natarelli, art coordinator is Erminio Setta, keyboard musician Antonio Germani.