Legend tells of a painting of the Madonna found buried beneath the earth after hens had scratched at the ground in a coop. The image is said to have performed eight miracles in a short time. It all began in 1609.

In Pagani, a small town in southern Italy, the Sunday after Easter is dedicated to Saint Mary the Crowned of Carmel, commonly known as Our Lady of the Hens. The celebration is both religious and civic.

The days preceding the feast are marked by a long wait for the Madonna. Her statue, adorned with live birds, moves through the streets and alleyways of the town, passing by votive shrines carefully arranged with satin and lace. These shrines are called toselli and are linked to ideas of maternity and devotion.

The tradition also recalls the offering of hens, doves or turkeys to the church as symbolic gifts. The town takes part with intense faith, until the day of the feast, when devotion opens into dances, songs and collective celebration.

Pagani, Italy, 2023–2026