Celebrations in honour of Sponganoo's patron saint, closely linked to olive-growing and part of the rituals used by farmers to wish for a good harvest.

In Spongano (south of Maglie), one of the most characteristic and ancient festivals of Salento folk traditions is held. As a kind of harvest festival/thanksgiving "Le Panare" baskets filled with the residue from the olive harvest and slowly burnt. It's an expression of gratitude for the harvest and the hope of a fruitful harvest next year. 
It 's a celebration founded in tradition, which now assumes new symbolic meanings, but that does not lose its meaning for the community. It is also a celebration of the Patron Saint of Spondon, S. Victory. Tradition has it, in fact, that the burning pyre of these baskets symbolize the Holy Sacrifice.

Natale - Christmas
There are many events over the Christmas period, processions, street markets (Lecce Christmas market is on every day over the Christmas period), fantastic street lighting in some towns, Presepe (live nativity scenes) are very popular; Torchiarolo puts on a very good Presepe from end of December to end of January.

Zollinoi : Fire Festival and 'striare' (27th/28th)
Dancing, street performers, music and food stalls with typical fare. On the first evening there is a theatre performance called "Il processo all striare"' about the trials held against witchcraft during the Middle Ages. "Striare" is a dialect term for witches who, according to popular beliefs, turned into cats and went to the sea to dance on the sand whenever there was/is a full moon.