| The
procession took place at noon, after the High Mass and the
panegyric. |
| The
statue, briefly cleaned up from the dust and the smoke of
candles, adorned with necklaces, rings and various jewels,
gifts of the faithful, it was taken on the shoulders for the
streets by a group of young people who had been able to obtain
it (the bearers payed a sum in nature or money at an auction
organized "ad hoc"). |
| Before
the statue went out of the church, there was always someone
who asked a special grace; generally the deaf-mutes, knelt
down together with their relatives, shouting, crying and beating
their chests. |
| The
procession started after this parenthesis. |
The
statue was preceded by the priests, the brethren of the
two Arch-fraternities and the women that carried m'zzett'
and it was followed by the musical band in uniform and by
people. |
| The
"m'zzett'" anciently was a wooden container, worth
half a tomolo, full of corn, covered with an embroidered fabric,
or however a showy one; some ribbons fell from the top, and
during the procession they were held by the young girls that
were offering the content of the "m'zzett'". |
| . |
|
|
| The
girls carried the mezzetto alternating themselves, since it
was so heavy that it could not be always carried by the same
person. |
|
Afterwards, the "m'zzett'" was built in such a way
that it was beautiful but lighter; a mezzetto of corn was
equally offeried privately in the church, but the covering
was formed by light wooden staffs, adorned with glass and
stone necklaces differently coloured, with golden chains,
ribbons, little bells, ecc. |
| The
girls were competing for the nicest "m'zzett'";
they were generally wearing a uniform dress, with the hair
melted on the shoulders: so they were trying to attract someone
else's attention. |
| The
procession, in fact, was a good opportunity to have themselves
noticed, since it was difficult, as a matter of fact, to have
contacts with boys. |
| The
procession went slowly for the streets, and, since the streets
were steep, it was very tiring; to give a little relief to
the bearers, the procession stopped at some stages along the
way in certain places, where to wait for the arrival of the
statue there were the inhabitants of the zone or other people
who gathered there to join the procession. |
|
