Draft:Moccoletti

Moccoletti (sometimes known as moccoli) are candles used in some parts of Italy on the last day of the celebration of Carnival.

A symbolic funeral for the festival, the "Festa dei moccoletti" ("Feast of moccoletti"), saw large numbers of people gather in public spaces, each with a lit moccoletto. The object of the celebration is to keep your candle lit while simultaneously extinguishing others'. Traditionally, you were expected to take your mask off in shame if your candle is blown out.

This phase in the Carnival celebration at Rome is featured in Chapter 36 of The Count of Monte Cristo.

The tradition continues to this day in parts of Italy.