In the small Italian mountain village of Cocullo, the locals celebrate an ancient ritual every May 1st which includes handling non-venomous snakes to overcome fears and seek protection from Saint Dominic, who is thought to heal snake bites and other poisons.

The serpari, or snake charmers, capture and care for these snakes, which are showcased before the procession and then draped over a statue of the Saint Dominic, symbolizing a cathartic overcoming of life's uncertainties.

The festival is surrounded by the smell of the forest, the pure air from the mountains, the rain and the food stands. Children, elders, locals, priests and almost everyone managed to overcome the fear of snakes thanks to the snake charmers. Photographing the reaction to the snakes was almost magical.
After the ceremony, the snakes are released back into nature.

This ritual intertwines history, religion, and myth, embodying faith, tradition, and mystery.