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The Signature
Ancient Spanish Easter Celebrations Come Back to Life in Enna By Alberto Lunetta NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
Easter Week in Sicily, known locally as “Settimana Santa,” is one of the most intense religious times of the year. Nearly all cities and towns hold solemn, sorrowful, and joyful processions celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Similar to Easter traditions across the island, Enna’s Easter week reaches its peak on Easter Sunday, April 21. But before that, the city organizes a mournful procession known as “Venerdì Santo” (Good Friday), the day of penitence which evokes the death of Jesus on the cross. The Settimana Santa tradition comes from Sicily’s Spanish heritage. At first, during the Middle Ages, Easter celebrations were only held inside churches and mainly consisted of liturgical observances and ritual functions. But during the 16th and 17th centuries, Catholic authorities decided to openly recruit members of the public, in order to teach believers about the Passion of Christ and His Resurrection. To do so, colorful, spectacular, and solemn processions and religious dramas began to be performed in cities’ historic centers. Skilled artists and craftsmen carved life size wooden figures depicting Jesus, the Virgin Mary, saints, and religious objects that were displayed during Palm Sunday and Good Friday processions. Participating in modern day commemorations will feel like traveling back in time when the Spaniards ruled Sicily. You will be impressed with the splendor of the traditional costumes, the decorations, and the intensity of the
Sigonella Army Volunteers Donate Books to Catania Students
devotees. Every year, thousands of pilgrims swarm Enna to see hooded devotees belonging to different cities’ “Confraternite” (confraternities), walking slowly in CATANIA, Sicily - On March 26, a group of U.S. Army volunteers from procession through Sigonella visited the Catania Istituto San Giovanni Bosco School to the streets of the deliver several boxes of books for children. Volunteers, who adopted historic center. the school a few months ago, also conducted a language interaction session aimed at helping the students improve their English speaking City bands playing and listening skills. The books were donated by the base DoDEA school mournful melodies and included a wide variety of English titles for middle and elementary accompany them. school students. The ongoing initiative has provided a great opportunity Confraternities to strengthen the friendship between the Sigonella volunteers and the are religious clubs students. resembling medieval guilds and date back to the period the 24 symbols of Jesus’ martyrdom. of Spanish rule. Over the centuries, The procession leaves the Church of these brotherhoods promoted and Saint Leonardo and as the confraternity organized their city’s religious and proceeds along via Roma, the other charitable activities. In the past, they fourteen Confraternite join to include over played a leading role in the social life 2,500 people, until they reach the Church of the town by providing spiritual and of Our Lady of Sorrows where a statue material assistance to the poor, sick, or depicting the Virgin Mary is preserved. incarcerated. In 1740, there were 34 Then, her statue is taken to the cathedral confraternities who usually were miners where an urn containing a statue of the or farmers. Today, there are only 16 and crucified Christ was previously placed. they include men belonging to all ranks 1900: The procession leaves the cathedral and classes of society. The color of their and reaches the Church of St. Paolini dresses and mantels worn during the where a benediction is given with the processions has a particular meaning Reliquary cross, which, according to the related either to their own patron saint or tradition contains a thorn from the crown to the role that they played in the past. of Christ. Eventually, the procession returns to the Cathedral around midnight. Procession Schedules Easter Sunday (April 21) Good Friday (April 19) 0700: Pasqua is celebrated with several 1500: Unveiling of the Holy Cross holy masses at the church of S. Salvatore and Eucharist at the Enna Cathedral 1630: Processions begin with the "ITALIAN NEWS" continued on Page 11 “Confraternity of the Passion” carrying
