|
The visits to Sepulchers
Among the rituals of the Holy Week, the
evening stroll to the "altarini" (small altars) or to the
"sepolcri" (sepulchers) of Holy Thursday in Bronte remains still a
tradition followed also by youngsters.
Is a wandering about principal Churches of Bronte
where, in religious silence, one goes to visit and pray in the
Sepulchers, a lateral altar of the church decorated the
morning of Thursday with flowers and gifts brought by the
parishioners to Christ sepulcher.
The churches, in sign of sorrow, strip all
sacred fittings and the lights, but the floor of a small altar
becomes an explosion of vivid colors with ribbons, flowers
and sprouts cultivated on purpose in the families surrounding
Christ sepulcher.
Particular and traditional are the floral compositions made with
wheat sprouts (but also with other cereals) immerged in damp
cotton wool an cultivated at home in darkness so to obtain
colors almost unreal (white or yellowish or aqua green).
The visit to "sepulchers" of the churches goes on till late in the
night.
|
Traditionally in Bronte, as in other Sicilian countries,
"devotions" are represented by ceremonial dishes
containing sprouted wheat, wine boiled with incense,
bread and seasonal flowers. The objects of the Passion
packed with biscuit dough (shaped like a cross, ladder,
nails, hammer, ...) brought to the church to be blessed
and adorn the "Sepolcri", will be used the next day in
the Good Friday procession.
The traditional offer of the faithful for the decoration
of the altar has a transparent symbolic and auspicious
content. It is an explosion of bright colors with
ribbons, flowers, cultivated shoots, fruit, baskets of
bread and wine that surround the tomb of Christ.
The visit to the "Sepulchers" of the churches lasts until
late at night. |
|
|
Powered by Associazione Bronte
Insieme Onlus - 