Taking part in the Maundy Thursday procession are the Veroniche, young girls who parade in precious dresses with their faces covered in a white veil: the girls wear an extraordinary quantity of gold objects on their hands, arms and necks and also decorating their heads like enormous turbans. Family jewellery is used but jewellery is also lent by relatives and friends for the occasion. During the invito di San Giuseppe - invitation to Saint Joseph, a lunch is offered to three people, symbolising the Sacred Family, before an altar decorated with characteristic loaves of bread. According to an ancient belief, the water in the Sibilla well, under the church of San Giovanni, on the day of the same Saint becomes miraculous and able to cure illness. For this reason, in past times many invalids would immerge themselves in it.
Historic landing of Garibaldi
The rites of Holy Week
A significant moment during the rites of Holy Week is the Via Crucis on Maundy Thursday with characters who parade through the main streets of the city interpreting the roles with great emotional involvement: the falling of Christ carrying the cross, which is repeated a few times during the route, is suggestive. A moving representation of the Crucifixion takes place in the evening of the same day. The Good Friday procession with the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows following Crucified Christ is very well attended.
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