La Pasquetta (Easter-Epiphany)

La Taurus Easter, celebrated on the eve of Epiphany, is performed by male or mixed choirs who sing in the square, in front of churches and homes. The texts consist of ten quatrains of rhymed octonariesThe first nine narrate the visit of the Magi to the Infant Jesus, the tenth brings Easter greetings to the hosts and onlookers.

The singing, on melodic line in two even-numbered voicesis accompanied by an instrumental introduction (accordion or other) repeated every two stanzas. The typical orchestration includes accordion or accordionette, guitar, 'bufù', 'streculatóre' (washing board), tinderbox and other instruments, including improvised ones.

Traditionally, the rite ended at midnight with a banquet offered to the singers; today it continues until Epiphany morning, with the last performance at the first mass in the convent, during the kiss of the Child. In recent years, Easter Monday has taken on a strong value religious and liturgicaldistinguishing itself in the Molise landscape from its original secular inspiration.