Catholic rituals blend with Neapolitan folklore at La Juta pilgrimage

At the annual La Juta pilgrimage near Naples, femminielli — a traditional Neapolitan third-gender group — attended a Candlemas Mass that mixed Catholic rites with local folklore, and this year transgender women were invited to take part in church readings.

The Church of the Annunziata in Mercogliano filled with femminielli, attendees wearing lacquered nails, towering wigs and heavy eyelashes for the annual La Juta pilgrimage. The event honors the Virgin Mary on Candlemas and affirms an identity rooted in Neapolitan culture and folklore. The Rev. Vitaliano Della Sala described the Juta as a celebration of the encounter between the human and the divine and noted pressures on rights around the world. Participants brought candles for blessing as part of the Mass. Key details: - Femminielli is a traditional Neapolitan third-gender role with ancient roots and today the term is often connected to parts of the LGBTQ+ community while retaining a distinct cultural identity. - Hundreds traditionally hike to the Sanctuary of Montevergine, which houses the Madonna of Montevergine icon; this year a landslide on the road led organizers to move the church celebration to the Church of the Annunziata. - For the first time at this Juta, transgender women were invited to do church readings during the Mass. - The service included mention of the recent death of 14-year-old Paolo Minturno, who died by suicide after alleged bullying, and participants reported grief and discussion of transphobia. - Medieval lore recounts a 1256 story in which the Madonna of Montevergine is said to have saved two youths left in the snow, a narrative that has contributed to the sanctuary's role as a symbol of protection for the marginalized. - Local groups such as the Trans Association of Naples have worked since 2007 to revive and preserve femminielli traditions, including mock weddings, childbirth rituals and leading rosary prayers. Summary: The Juta brought together Catholic ritual and Neapolitan popular culture, reaffirming a shared cultural and religious tradition while also highlighting concerns about exclusion and violence. The event included steps noted by participants as more inclusive, such as inviting transgender women to read at Mass. Undetermined at this time.