Romans celebrate decorously the Feast of the Decollation (beheading) of St. John (the Baptist), but last week they frolicsomely observed the Feast of his Nativity with torchlight processions and tremendous eating of snails. An old Italian custom, this honorary snail-eating is not (legend to the contrary) a rite of imitation derived from St. Matthew's assertion that "His [John the Baptist's] meat was locusts and wild honey."
Not only snail-eating but frog-racing and especially donkey-racing are part of Rome's traditional observance of St. John's day & night. As usual the frog racing last week was...
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