Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • NPR

    The Folk Music Festival That Started With A Spider Bite

    Night of the Taranta, an Italian folk music festival akin to Woodstock, celebrates a musical tradition that dates back to antiquity.
    by Sylvia Poggioli Oct 17, 2017 2 minutes
    Italian descendants perform the Tarantella, a dance that originates from a spider bite, in Curitiba, Brazil. / ORLANDO KISSNER / Getty Images

    The tarantella is a lively folk dance and musical style originating in southern Italy's Apulia region, the heel of the Italian geographic boot.

    Its name derives from the poisonous bite of a local spider and is rooted in pagan tradition.

    Today, it's the theme of one of Europe's biggest annual folk music concerts, now in its 20th year. It's called Night of the Taranta,

    You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

    More from NPR

    NPR4 min readWorld
    China Launches A New Crew To Its Space Station, Advancing Toward Lunar Mission
    Three astronauts will spend six months on China's space station. Some experts worry China's ambitious space program could pose a threat to U.S. space superiority and military effectiveness.
    NPR5 min readFinance & Money Management
    Housing Experts Say There Just Aren't Enough Homes In The U.S.
    The United States is millions of homes short of demand, and lacks enough affordable housing units. And many Americans feel like housing costs are eating up too much of their take-home pay.
    NPR4 min readInternational Relations
    An American Hostage Is Seen Alive For The First Time Since Oct. 7 In A Hamas Video
    Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who turned 24 last month while in captivity, has spent more than 200 days in captivity. His left arm was partially blown off by a grenade during the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7.

    Related Books & Audiobooks