SICILY : EASTER IN AIDONE ‘FESTA DELLA RESURREZIONE’ On Easter Sunday, in Aidone, a village east of Enna in Sicily, is held one of the most colourful Easter celebration in Italy. This is ‘Festa della Resurrezione’ (resurrection). The highlight of this event is the 12 ‘Santoni’, gigantic statues of the Apostles. The main events are : Corsa dei Santoni (Race of the Santoni) ‘Giunta di Pasqua’ (Virgin Mary & Jesus meet) Processione del Cristo Risorto (Procession of the Risen Christ) Dominique LAURENT Meet me on mosttraveledpeople.com or thebesttravelled.com AUTOMATIC NO COMMERCIAL USE WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL

‘I SANTONI’ (THE 12 APOSTLES) ‘Santoni’, papier-mâché gigantic structures (about 3,5 m high) representing the 12 apostles are carried by the disguised so-called “Santanari” (members of different local fraternities) during the Holy Week. They go up and down the village, from one church to another, until the sad procession of the dead Christ On Holy Friday. On Easter Sunday (shown here), to revitalize and rejoice in the resurrection, they become cheerful messengers of the sacred news.

San Giovanni (St John) San Giacomo (St James) San Pietro (St Peter)

San Simone (St Simon) San Tommaso (St Thomas) San Bartolomeo (St Bartholomew)

San Andrea (St Andrew) San Filippo (St Philip) San Giacomo (St James)

San Matteo (St Matthew) San Mattia (St Matthias) San Giacomo Min (St James the Lesser)

San Bartolomeo, San Simone, San Giudaato, San Giovanni & San Matteo in Chiesa Santa Maria

San Matteo San Bartolomeo

Leaving Chiesa Santa Maria San Matteo San Giudaato

Some ‘Santoni’ (gigantic statues of saints) in front of Chiesa Santa Maria

San Filippo San Bartolomeo San Simone

San Matteo, San Filippo & San Tommaso

San Matteo San Tommaso San Giudaato

San Bartolomeo, San Filippo & San Matteo

San Andrea San Giacomo San Giovanni

San Simone, San Matteo, San Giovanni, San Giacomo Min, San Mattia, San Tommaso, San Giacomo & San Bartolomeo

San Giacomo Min San Giovanni San Simone

San Giovanni, San Giacomo Min, San Giacomo, San Tommaso, San Mattia & San Simone

San Giovanni, San Filippo, San Mattia, San Andrea & San Tommaso

San Giacomo

ARRIVAL OF THE ‘FERCOLO DELLA MADONNA’ The ‘fercolo’ (carriage) carrying Virgin Mary statue (Madonna) arrives at Chiesa Santa Maria. The statue is veiled with a black cloth, as the Virgin is still mourning Jesus. Then a procession of the ‘fercolo della Madonna’ followed by the ‘Santoni’ (apostles gigantic statues) is performed. It will be followed by the ‘Corsa dei Santoni’.

Fercolo della Madonna

Fercolo della Madonna

Santoni & Fercolo della Madonna

Fercolo de la Madonna

San Bartolomeo, San Filippo, San Simone & Fercolo della Madonna

CORSA DEI SANTONI While loudspeakers joyfully announce ‘Cristo e risorto’ (Christ is resurrected), news of the resurrection are spreading among the apostles. They are so happy that they run back and forth towards the Fercolo del Cristo Risorto (carriage of the Risen Christ). This is the Race of the Apostles (‘Corsa dei Santoni’).

San Mattia

San Simone San Giacomo Min

San Giovanni San Filippo

San Giacomo San Giudaato

San Mattia San Andrea

San Filippo San Matteo

San Simone, San Mateo & San Giacomo San Simone, San Mateo & San Giacomo San Bartolomeo, San Matteo, San Filippo & San Giacomo

San Pietro

‘’GIUNTA DI PASQUA’ The ‘Giunta di Pasqua’ is the special moment when Virgin Mary meets her son Jesus after his resurrection. The Fercolo della Madonna & the Fercolo del Cristo Risorto (Risen Christ) leave the opposite sides of Aidone main square and meet in the middle. At last, Virgin Mary & Jesus are reunited again. The statue of Virgin Mary has been unveiled of its black cloth, as she is not mourning any more.

Fercolo del Cristo Risorto

Fercolo del Cristo Risorto

Fercolo della Madonna

‘Giunta di Pasqua’ : the two ‘fercolos’ side by side

San Giacomo Min & San Andrea

The ‘Santoni’ getting ready for the ‘Processione del Cristo Risorto’

Before ‘Processione del Cristo Risorto’

PROCESSIONE DEL CRISTO RISORTO After ‘Giunta di Pasqua’, the triumphal ‘Processione del Cristo Risorto’ (Procession of the Risen Christ) takes place in the streets of Aidone. The ‘Santoni’ are followed by the Fercolo della Madonna & the Fercolo del Cristo Risorto.

San Pietro & San Giovanni saluting each other

END OF THE PROCESSION The fercolo del Cristo Risorto is taken back inside Chiesa San Leone and the Fercolo della Madonna inside Chiesa Santa Maria. Meanwhile, the bowing ‘Santoni’ pay their respects to each other, Christ & the Madonna.

Fercolo del Cristo Risorto in front of Chiesa San Leone

San Bartolomeo & San Giacomo saluting each other in front of San Andrea & San Mattia

San Mattia & San Simone saluting each other in front of San Andrea & San Giacomo

San Giovanni & San Andrea saluting each other in front of San Mattia

San Pietro & San Mattia saluting each other

San Mattia & San Giacomo saluting each other

Fercolo del Cristo Risorto back in Chiesa San Leone Fercolo della Madonna & Torre Adelasia

San Matteo & San Pietro saluting each other

San Matteo & San Pietro saluting each other

San Pietro & San Giudaato saluting each other

San Tommaso, San Pietro & San Filippo saluting each other

San Filippo (above) & San Giovanni (right) saluting the Madonna

Fercolo della Madonna back in Chiesa Santa Maria END