|
Moments
in the Good Friday procession |
| . |
| HOLY
WEDNESDAY |
| In
times past, it was on Holy Wednesday that the Tenebrae service
began. |
| . |
| HOLY
THURSDAY |
A few days before Holy Thursday the Holy Sepulchers 
were set up in the various churches. |
| The
tenebrae services, announced by the sound of the church bells,
inaugurated the Good Thursday services—usually long
and exhausting but always well attended, nonetheless. Of major
interest was the sound of rattles which accompanied the display
of the Blessed Sacrament in the Holy Sepulcher. |
| The
rattles (made of wood or tin) created a deafening noise, similar
to a steady croaking sound that produced anxiety and sadness.
Rattles were supposed to simulate the noise of the quake that
followed the crucifixion of Jesus. |
| Some
members of the congregation, bent on producing noise, would
stamp their feet, clap their hands or bang on the church pews
with an object. The first to give the signal to start the
racket was the priest, who did so by striking the altar with
his hand. |
| The
faithful of Calitri came from the farthest corners of town
to visit the Sepulchers. |
|
| "QUARANTANA" |
| The
lenten season was symbolized by the Quarantana ,
a large rag doll resembling a hag dressed in black weeds.
It was hung from a window or by the main entrance on Ash Wednesday. |
| At
the feet of the Quarantana were six black feathers corresponding
to the six Sundays of Lent, plus a white feather symbolizing
Easter. |
| Visiting
the Sepulchers begins, according to established custom, on
Holy Thursday evening. The Sepulchers are altars where, symbolically,
the Crucified Christ rests. They are decorated with an abundance
of flowers and bowls of sprung wheat, signifying the imminent
return to life of the Lord and mankind. |
| calitri
tradizioni |
| PALM
SUNDAY |
|
Palm Sunday was a deeply felt experience. There was a great
desire for peace and people who had quarreled would become
reconciled. |
| The
blessing of the olive branches was repeated several times
during the morning hours, for the benefit of people from the
countryside who arrived at different times. As soon as there
was a small gathering, the priest sprinkled the holy water. |
| If
it was a windy day, it presaged a plentiful harvest. Hence
the adage: a windy palm augurs fulsome sheaves of grain. |
| In
the old days, it was customary to save the blessed olive branch.
The old-timers replaced it yearly with a new one which they
hung above the head board beside the candle blessed on Candlemas.
Some farmers would hang it outside a window as protection
against lightning. |
| . |
|
|
