Festa di Piedigrotta
The Festa di Piedigrotta is a traditional Neapolitan folk festival. The associated musical competition stimulated the production of folk Neapolitan music from 1839 to 1950.
History of the festival
The ancient Bacchanals , which were celebrated at the Pozzuoli cave, are considered to be the forerunners of the festival . In the 16th century the church of Santa Maria di Piedrigrotta in the Neapolitan district of Mergellina with its statue of the Madonna became the center of a fishermen's festival, which was moved to September 8th.
Under the Spanish crown, the parade of Piedigrotta took on an official festive character, especially since the viceroy had participated for the first time in 1528. Under Bourbon rule, the military and anti-Habsburg aspect was emphasized.
The festival never lost its popular, pagan-sensual character, with dancing and singing. From September 8, 1839 there was an official song competition of the "Canzone napoletana". The autumn festival stimulated the Neapolitan folk music to a significant extent . It became the occasion for the publication of ever new songs - in 1889 there were about 3000. From 1952 to 1970 there was a "Festival della Canzone Napoletana". The festival went into decline and was abolished in 1982, but there has been an attempt to revive it since 2007.