From the Friday of the Octave of Easter to the pursuing Monday the streets and air of Pagani – in close proximity to Salerno in the Campania region of Italy – are thick with the smoke of fireworks and carciofi arrostiti (roasted artichokes) as element of a centuries-outdated ritual celebrating the feast of Our Lady of the Hens (Madonna del Carmelo detta “delle galline”).
The story has it that some hens scratching the soil located a panel depicting the Madonna del Carmelo this was assumed as a divine indication by the locals and religious authorities who decided
