The Festival of the snake catchers (or snake-charmers) (Festa dei Serpari di Cocullo) is an annual festival held on May 1 in Cocullo, Italy in honour of St. Dominic di Sora, patron saint protecting against snakebite and toothache.

[1] Its origins date back to paganism and have roots in an ancient celebration in honour of the Roman goddess Angitia.

[2] The festival involves a procession carrying the statue of St. Dominic, draped with live snakes, through the streets of the village.

This festival has pre-Christian roots and is related to a much older rite, that of the snake deity, Angitia.

In pagan times, the snake-charmers were the priests at the sanctuary of Angitia[3] and the snakes were associated with healing.