On November 23rd in Latera the patron saint San Clemente is celebrated with a very heartfelt religious festival, which over the years has joined a party dedicated to the oil cycle.
According to tradition, all night before November 23rd, the bells ring to celebrate the saint and to remind all the inhabitants of the countryside to come to the village.
During the day a solemn mass is celebrated and a procession parades along the streets of the town.
San Clemente was the fourth pope of the Catholic Church (from 92 to 97) and could not finish his pontificate because he was enslaved by the emperor and sent to work in the Crimea.
Here he died drowned with an anchor in the water of the for this reason, the Black Sea is also the patron saint of fishermen.
His cult was immediately strong for the many miracles performed in life and is loved by both the Catholic and the Orthodox churches.
Next to these celebrations, according to the local tradition, this day the pig was killed and people started to prepare cold meats for Christmas.
These aspects of popular life have remained over the years and every year the ‘oil cycle’ is celebrated with the tasting of the new oil accompanied by live music and shows.
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