Every first Sunday of May, Pretoro celebrates one of the most significant sacred representations of its tradition: "The Miracle of San Domenico and the Wolf." This patronal festival, which includes snakes and the depiction of the wolf, is an ancient rite aimed at protecting people from the danger of snakes. The protective amulet is a blessed “lazo” (cord) that the faithful wear as a talisman.

The day begins with a procession, after which the public heads to the place where the “sacred representation of the Wolf” will take place. The scene unfolds on a stage: a couple enters the forest with their young child to gather firewood, leaving the child’s cradle behind as they begin their work. In a moment of distraction, an actor covered in furs and wearing a wolf's head enters the scene, steals the child, and takes him into the forest. The father tries to strike the wolf with an axe, but the animal is already far away. Both parents kneel and invoke San Domenico. Miraculously, the wolf returns, tamed, and places the unharmed child back in the cradle, to the applause of the crowd.

It is a tradition to distribute the blessed cords during the festival, as it is believed that wearing them protects against snake bites. This celebration not only strengthens the faith of the inhabitants of Pretoro but also keeps alive one of the region's most cherished and revered stories.

Fuente: https://abruzzomarrucino.it/eventi/san-domenico-e-il-lupo-19303