Olive harvest in Abruzzo, village festival ageless

The last harvest of the year is what greets finally summer. The collection olives in Abruzzo is a village festival that speaks of ancient traditions, rituals that are handed down over the years, whole families who find themselves under the olive trees to produce the new oil – green gold – winter supply that, together with the grain, once assured livelihood for the bad season just around the corner. Today the olive harvest in Abruzzo preserves characteristics of a time, with the celebration of the earth that is going to rest through songs and gestures that are repeated equal, Season after season.

The olive tree in Abruzzo: traditions and legends

In the oil Mediterranean culture is a symbol of light, but Also peace, wealth and patience. It is no coincidence that it is precisely the olive wood the "tecchio" that, in ancient times, He was put in the fireplace the night Christmas, symbolically to warm the baby Jesus. According to a poetic Abruzzo legend, then, tree Olive had protected Mary and Jesus arrived in Abruzzo fleeing Jews. THE branches had allowed the Madonna and Child hiding and had then transformed into hut. The oil and olives were also the basis of folk medicine, but also magical-religious practices, to protect against hexes and spells.

Cultivation of the olive in Abruzzo: the origins

The olive cultivation in Abruzzo It has ancient roots. The testimonies speak of a practice deeply rooted, eg, in Fucino. The Latin poet Virgil attests in the presence of the olive and Marsica Ovidio in the Valley Peligna. In the area Vestina Pens and cultivation has always been flourishing, as confirmation also advocate, politician and Roman poet Silio Italico. There are three varieties Abruzzo oil that can boast the DOP (Designation of Origin Controlled): "Aprutino Pescara", "Teatine Hills" and "the Pretuziano Hills Teramane ".

Oil in Abruzzo: production

By vocation and production quality, Abruzzo stands among the most important olive-growing areas. The average production is approximately 260 thousand tons of oil, mostly extra virgin, and the dedicated surface olive trees is 45 thousand hectares, from which they are produced 1.400mila quintals of olives. The autumn sun, in Abruzzo, welcomes the olive harvest and oil production like a solemn occasion. The campaigns come back to sing, the freshly squeezed oil is tasted on a slice of toasted bread. The memories of the last harvest season will then, upcoming winter, a supply of joy for the soul, while gold Abruzzo will be the undisputed protagonist of the boards.