Feast of Lilies in Nola

In June, Nola celebrates St. Paulinus (bishop of the city in the 5th century), and it is on this occasion that one of the most heartfelt religious and folkloric events is held by the people of Nola, the "Festival of Lilies." The Gigli are 25-meter-high wooden structures covered in papier-mâché that represent the eight guilds of Nola. These huge structures are lifted using chestnut wood rods by about 120 "cradlers," so called because of the swinging motion they make the Lilies make. The procession begins in Piazza Duomo and continues on a historic route through the streets of Nola, known as the "ballad of the lilies." The themes that decorate the Lilies from year to year are based on historical, religious or current events. The festivities involve all Nola residents from construction to transportation and last well into the night.