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Fausto Podavini

An aerial view captures the town of Accettura, located in the Basilicata region of Southern Italy.

After walking more than nine miles on foot, the cimaioli return to the town with the tree-bride.

Men prepare a community picnic in the chiapparedd, a resting area outside of Accettura, to consecrate the end of the first day of the festival.

Musicians entertain the maggiaioli during the logging of maggio. Music is essential to the festival, so much that bands play almost continuously during four days of celebration.

Maggiaioli use oxen to drag the massive maggio (oak tree) from the Montepiano Forest to its resting area over two miles away from Accettura.

Locals pile into a truck that will take them to the Gallipoli Cognato forest where the agrifoglio (tree) will be cut down to become the maggio’s bride.