The Madonna that sprints.
Abruzzo Day 5. 20th April
To enjoy fully these shots you have to understand the folklore story. Remember it was Easter Sunday when the event took place.
1. As soon as they came to know of Jesus’s resurrection, the Apostles Peter and John leave their hiding place (the chapel not shown in yesterday’s picture) to go and inform Jesus’s Mother, Mary of what had happened.
2. They walk across the square to the church (on the opposite side of the square) where Mary is locked up in mourning for the death of Her Son.
3. Arriving there, John goes up a ramp to the door of the church and knocks on the door. He asks Mary to come and rejoice because they had seen Her Son alive but Mary refuses to believe him.
4. John returns to Peter and informs him. Peter goes himself to convince Mary to come. “It’s true, Mary, Jesus is risen – He is alive!” Mary replies: “How can I believe you when you have recently betrayed him three times?”
5. Peter returns desolate to John who decides to give it a last try. He goes again up the ramp, knocks on the door, and finally convinces Mary to go with them.
6. Mary comes out of the place of mourning (the church) all dressed in black.
7. Then follows a sombre procession, very slowly across the square until the cortege comes to the fountain in the middle of the square and stops. At the moment you can hear a pin drop.
8. Suddenly a bang from a firecracker (we were waiting for it). Mary sees Jesus at the end of the square , she sheds her mourning dress and is now in a beautiful green dress – a sign of joy and hope; white pigeons are let loose at the same time.
9. The statue bearers take off and sprint with the statue of Mary on their shoulders to Jesus and Mary embraces her Beloved Son. This run takes only a few seconds.
Top right picture: John and Peter are carried across the square to where Mary is in mourning.
Bottom left picture: Statue of The Risen Christ
Top left picture: Mary, in mourning cloths followed by John
Bottom right picture: Mary has shed her black dress and is now in green. If you look closely you will see the at least one of the pigeons trying to take off. I do not know how they do this but the change in cloths happens in a fraction of a second. The quality of the pictures is not the best but the subjects were very far away and you can see the heads of those in front of me while I tried to get a good view with my handheld camera.
Believe me, this was a magnificent spectacle to watch.
Thank you so much for looking and for your wonderful comments and the fav's on yesterday's picture.
@lilminimonka Many thanks for your comments. You are right about the minion and nemo. There was such a festive atmosphere and balloons of all sorts. A very colourful event.
Your collage really captures how magnificent this play must be. The statues look beautiful and it's amazing how the people who hold them are able to perform with such a crowd around them! Great job!
Thank you for the comment and Fav. Very much appreciated