Jelsi and the time-honoured tradition of the Feast of St Anne

In the heart of Molise, the small village of Jelsi, in the province of Campobasso, preserves a tradition that brings together the land, faith and craftsmanship. Every year, on 26 July, the community comes together for the Feast of Saint Anne, which originated as a sign of gratitude following the earthquake of 1805. The centrepiece of the event is the procession of the ‘Traglie’, ancient ox-drawn sledge-like agricultural vehicles, followed by carts entirely decorated with woven ears of wheat and grains of wheat. This craft requires months of preparation, during which the locals shape the wheat to recreate monuments and scenes from rural life. For those unable to attend the summer event, the atmosphere can be experienced all year round at the MuFeG, the Museum of the Wheat Festival housed in the former convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which showcases these collective works of art and bears witness to the deep connection with the rural landscape.