Holy Week is a big deal in Sicily and on Good Friday, the Processione dei Misteri is held. It's a 24-hour long passion procession featuring 20 floats. The floats are brought to the Chiesa delle Anime Sante del Purgatorio (Church of the Souls in Purgatory) to begin their journey.
The floats are displayed throughout the church. Made in the 17th and 18th century, they are made of wood & cork. The statues illustrate the story of the Passion of Christ and are sponsored by different guilds. This one is the first float depicting the Separation of Jesus by his mother and his favorite apostle John.
This is float #12--The Sentence.
At 2 pm on Good Friday, the procession starts.
The procession snakes through town and people watch from the street and from balconies.
Men & women dressed in black carry the floats on their shoulders.
They support the float and each other. Clickers are used to signal when to stop and place the float down and when to pick them up and walk again.
Bands play funeral dirges to accompany the floats.
Other participants in the parade carry flags and pillows with memorable items.
Crown of thorns.
The floats are carried in a rhythmic, swaying motion.
2022 04 15
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