In older times, the "Witches' night" was celebrated on June, 24th. It was said that, during this night, the witches meandered soul-searching. People from all over the city went to san Giovanni in Laterano with torches and lanterns to pray to the saint and eat snails (symbol of discords and worries) in taverns, trying to eat them noisily to frighten the witches. At dawn the Pope used to celebrate the Mass and, at the end, he threw golden and silver coins from the basilica, making people shouting for joy.