Holy Week in Sicily .. The Processione dei Misteri (Procession of the Mysteries or the Stations of the Cross) has been celebrated for about 400 years in Trapani. This photo from 2015 shows one of 20 statue scenes that are carried throughout the city by local brotherhoods or guilds, an arduous ritual that is practiced…
Tag: I Misteri
Holy Week in Sicily: Enna
Holy week, the week between Palm Sunday (this coming Sunday) and Easter, is a solemn, yet exciting time in Sicily. Last year, I featured the events in Trapani for “I Misteri,” the city’s magnificent Good Friday procession. This year, I’m going to feature photos taken in Enna by my cousin Filippo Buttitta, like this one…
The Mysteries: The Children
To tell the story of the passion of Christ, or I Misteri, children dress in costumes in Trapani, Sicily.
The Mysteries: His Sacrifice
His sacrifice. A statue scene from I Misteri, The Misteries, celebrated for centuries in Trapani, Sicily.
The Mysteries: Preparing Jesus
From Trapani’s I Misteri procession… This statue scene: the Roman soldiers prepare Jesus for the crucifixion.
The Brotherhood of i Misteri
“Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!” This sound is heard repeatedly throughout the 24-hours of I Misteri, the procession in Trapani, Sicily on Good Friday known as The Mysteries, or what we call The Stations of the Cross. The sharp clapping sound that cuts through the crowd noise and marching bands, is made with a wooden…
Holy Week in Sicily
This week is Holy Week or “La settimana santa.” In Sicily, towns celebrate various sacred rites each day, the height of which are practiced on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. The region’s Spanish cultural roots are most apparent through these traditions. Renowned is the Processione dei Misteri, or Procession of the Mysteries in Trapani. On…
Happy Easter!
Because the statue-scenes from Trapani’s Procession of the Mysteries (that represent the Stations of the Cross) are so emotive and powerful, I thought I’d include today a close-up of one that captures the sentiment of this season. Happy Easter!
Trapani’s Procession of the Mysteries
Holy Week in Sicily is remarkable. Countless towns observe la Settimana Santa with solemn processions and rituals. The region’s Spanish cultural roots are most apparent during these passionate practices. Last year’s Good Friday, observed today in 2016, I was fortunate enough to be in Trapani, where I took this photo of the unforgettable Processione dei…
The Mysteries of Good Friday
Yesterday in Trapani I witnessed the Mysteries, or I Misteri. Local confraternities representing different professions carry these centuries-old statue-scenes depicting the stations of the cross. Marching bands accompany the scenes playing dirges and the confraternities and bands sway in sync. It is beautiful and sad and full of emotions! A beautiful scene!