Post on 12-Jul-2020
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THE FESTIVAL OF SAINT MAURO
The main religious festival in Viagrande is that of
Saint Mauro the Abbot that takes place every
year on the 15th of January, when there is a
spectacular and long awaited come out of the
Patron Saint with a splendid choreography of
fireworks.
Saint Mauro, who was Saint Benedict’s dearest
pupil, was chosen as the Patron Saint of
Viagrande towards the end of the 18th century.
According to the belief, the Saint is able to cure “not only who suffers from
rheumatism, but also who had the misfortune of breaking his legs”.
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The celebration ends on Sunday the 22nd of January.
The celebration starts
on the New Year’s
Day, when the statue
is carried from the
“Casa ‘a vara”,
made in an aisle of
the imposing Ancient
Church, destroyed by
an earthquake in
1693, to the “Chiesa
Madre”, (the main
Church).
In the night before the feast, after a nine days preparation, there is the solemn
procession of the Relic across the streets of the town centre.
Then the silver shrine is placed on the feet of the Saint.
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At the end of the religious
ceremony in the square there
is the “entry of the parties”.
The people living in the
town, on the occasion of the
celebration, are divided in
two different districts:
“Santa Caterina”, in the
southern zone, and
“Scalatelli”, in the northern
one.
The day of the festival: the “svelata”, through the acclamation of the devotees,
who, wearing a traditional white dress, shake their handkerchiefs invoking the Saint.
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At 1pm the statue of the Saint comes
out from the church through fireworks, while
the bells ring and all the people shout” Viva
San Mauro”.
A jubilant crowd welcomes the Saint in the
church square.
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The procession arrives at Viscalori and goes on
across the streets until the late night, when the statue,
greeted by fireworks, enters the church again.
On the day after the feast, there is a solemn Pontifical
Mass, celebrated by the Archbishop, who, after the
celebration, visits the town hall where he receives the
honours by the town authorities.
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