Femminiello

Femminielli or femmenielli (singular is femminiello,) is the traditional term for gay men who dress femininely, and have a feminine gender expression in Neapolitan culture. This term is not derogatory and does not carry stigma, instead are traditionally believed to bring luck. This term often overlaps with transgender girls.

History
There is constant references in many sources to the ancient rituals behind the presence of the femminiello in Naples. Much of this came from Greek mythology- examples include Hermaphroditus, who's said to possess the beauty of the mother and Tiresias, the blind prophet of Thebes, who was transformed into a woman for seven years.

Tradition
There is a ceremony called the matrimonio dei femminielli that takes place in Torre Annunziata, during Easter Monday. It is a parade of femminielli dressed in wedding gowns and accompanied by a "husband." They travel through the streets in horse-drawn carriages

The femminiello in Campania have a relatively privileged position due to participation in traditional events, such as Candelora al Santuario di Montevergine (Candlemas at the Sanctuary of Montevergine) in Avellino or the Tammurriata, a traditional dance performed at the feast of Madonna dell'Arco in Sant'Anastasia.

Because they are seen as good luck, it is common in the neighborhoods for a femminiello person to hold a newborn baby, or participate in games such as the Tombola(Raffle) or Tombolata dei femminielli- a popular game performed on February 2nd every year, as the concluding piece of the Candlemas at the Sanctuary of Montevergine.