Calatafimi, December 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 4:00 am striking the night of the torches.
The "Mmaculatedda" history, faith and tradition, beautiful night of the torches.
He is alive in every heart Calatafimese the bond in respect of the traditional evening procession in honor of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, or the "Mmaculatedda. This tradition is linked to the name of Master Vincent Avila who, having purchased in paper mache effigy of the Virgin to keep in his house, he decided to have them blessed dawn of December 8, at the conclusion of the novena. Therefore, together with other colleagues shoemakers transported at night, before the beginning of the sacred, the statue at the church of San Michele. This private procession was repeated every year.
As the people were also fond of this statue was the lone transport gradually became a veritable parade, which through the years, was becoming more spiritual force for the large number of faithful who attended, so that Having regard to the devotion of this small statue of the Immaculate, was thought to lead a procession through the streets of the country, as usual processional route. In the absence of electricity, to make it less dangerous and easier to carry the night of the procession began to use torches ampelodesma leg "of the busi DDIS" in order to illuminate the journey.
In this fascinating procession, remained unchanged from its origins until today, faithful participating in excess of all social and age. Unlike other processions Calatafimi, there is no distinction in classes, there is no standard, all participate as God's people united around that unique bond that is Mary. During the procession, are very attractive and popular invocations of faith inherent, which are scanned with a special module on the way: the moment when the believer turns, pointing with elevated right towards the statue of the Madonna and powerful voice calls Maria, everyone is silent, waiting impatiently, to respond with enthusiasm the ritual "Viva Maria Mmaculata. And if by chance, or because they distracted from sleep or because they prevailed, someone forget or become reluctant to respond to the summons, the person who proclaims immediately involved with the ironic invocation of "Who Semu Surdo and dumb," which not only provoke a thin smile, awakens the mind is challenged to sing the praises of the Virgin Mary. The artificial harmonies of the drums, which forcefully pierce the silence of the night, ferment the mind of everyone, even managing to thrill and drag him to a spectator is immersed in a full size sublime burst of faith. But the "Mmaculatedda" without detracting from the religious fervor, it is also important traditional festival: already in the weeks before all the people Calatafimese joined in groups to organize "Tavulidda" hearty dinner that begins the evening of December 7 and lasts most of the night until the ringing of church bells of San Michele, in the heart of town, draws all people to settle each with its own "ciaccula behind the statue of the Madonna pompously decorated with flowers and give way to start the procession. Are 4.00 8 December and all, sleepy, begin the march, but just the cry "Tremble lu` nfernu triumphs and Mary "or" Mary nnomu Sintennu lu lu `nfernu trembles" that all find the energy to carry through the streets of the country and to gather together in front of the church of San Michele for the burning end of what is left of "ciaccole.
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