Piazza San Bartolomeo - Pistoia - Tuscany

One of the peculiarities of Pistoia is that it is the only Tuscan town to have a cult dedicated to the apostle Bartholomew, who is venerated as the patron saint of boys and girls.
On August 24, the feast day of the saint, the square in front of the church of San Bartolomeo in Pantano and the adjacent streets have been filled from time immemorial with boys and girls who are taken to the altar to "be anointed" so that they can be anointed by the saint. Bartholomew himself be protected from the snares of evil spirits.
The tradition was established in Pistoia when the Benedictine community of Saint Bartholomew was replaced in 1433 by the Lateran Canons of the order of Saint Augustine, who spread a rite of Umbrian origin. That is why the formula accompanying the anointing rite, which consists of a small cross drawn on the forehead, quotes Saint Ubaldo, Bishop of Gubbio, in a Lateran canon.
In Pistoia there is a saying that explains this tradition and which still lives on: to designate a lively child with excised knees, it is called "sanbartolomeo", or, abbreviated, "sammeo", referring to the apostle and martyr saint who felt has died.
On Friday 23 and Saturday 24 August, two days of festivities are planned, with religious celebrations and moments of fun and entertainment. The square and nearby streets will be colored with many stalls selling toys and sweets, including the "Crown of Saint Bartholomew", made of large shortbread called "pippi", interspersed with candied almonds and chocolates, traditionally used to celebrate the necks of children are laid.
A typical Pistoie delicacy!

Willem Vandenameele