For most everyone, Valentine’s Day was a normal work day, celebrated mainly in the evening, but here in Palmoli, “La festa degli innamorati” is a special day. Saint Valentine is our patron saint, so the schools are closed and we have a special celebration.
The day began with fireworks at 8 AM (just in case someone was thinking about sleeping in, I guess). Being right by the school, we had the extra added benefit of hearing the marching band practice. Mass is at 11:00, but before that, many people head down to the Piazza to say goodmorning and wish everyone a good day. The marching band also comes down to play a few songs.
Then it’s mass at 11:00 and, although I have to admit that the church is rarely crowded, on feast days and holidays, it’s standing room only. Laurel leaves are strewn over the stone floor and the church is decorated with roses and other flowers. The statue of Saint Valentine has been moved out of his cubby hole to the place of honor next to the altar. (The various Saints’ statues are moved throughout the season.)
The church has been endowed with two relics of Saint Valentine, one is a piece of his arm bone that is encased in a bronze urn, and the other is his sacred remains. During mass, everyone files up and kisses the bronze urn that holds his arm bone. Then, when mass ends, the statue of Saint Valentine and his banner are removed from church and carried through the town, followed by a procession of town-people.
The Saint Valentine Chapel with the sacred remains

During the afternoon there is a special session in the church to bless the children. Then in the evening there is various entertainment.
History
On March 10, 1736, Saint Valentine was voted Patron Saint of Palmoli by unanimous vote of the clergy, the citizens and the Marchese di Gagliati, Baron of Palmoli.
The town already owned a sacred relic of Saint Valentine, the Sacred Arm, given to the church Santa Maria delle Grazie in 1705.
During the reign of Pope Leo XII, the town obtained the remains of Saint Valentine, authenticated by Cardinal Giuseppe Perugino, through the efforts of the Marchese of Palmoli. On November 18, 1824, the sacred Urn containing the remains was transported by sea from Rome to Naples, then overland to Trivento where it was met by a crowd of devotees, ready to escort the Saint to his new home in Palmoli.
Painting on the ceiling of the church, Santa Maria delle Grazie, in Palmoli

According to legend, the people of Trivento wanted to keep the sacred relic in their town, however, San Valentino raised his arm as if to say “To Palmoli, to Palmoli”, and off they went. When they reached the nearby town of Mafalda, also devoted to San Valentino, the townspeople there also wanted to keep the Saint’s remains. After much discussion, a test was devised. They hooked the carriage containing the saint to two untried oxen. The decision was made that if the oxen took the road toward Mafalda, the saint would stay in Mafalda. If they took the road to Palmoli, the saint would continue his journey to
Palmoli. And so, the oxen were hooked to the carriage and, as you can imagine, they took the road towards Palmoli.
Thus the journey continued, reaching Palmoli on December 22, 1824.
In 1898, construction began on the Saint Valentine chapel in the church and it was later inaugurated in 1904.
Palmoli celebrates its patron saint on Saint Valentine’s Day, naturally, and also on the first weekend in September, with mass, a procession through town, and various other diversions.
Every 25 years a special celebration is held and the procession carries the sacred remains of Saint Valentine through the town.
Santa Maria delle Grazia (this picture was taken last year during the Easter season)
Popularity: 28% [?]