Flight into Egypt and Herod's Soldiers in Pietraperzia
The Festival of Herod's Soldiers in Pietraperzia consists of the staging of an evangelical episode which recalls the Flight into Egypt of the Holy Family.
It is an element of great cultural and artistic importance in the celebration of the feast of San Giuseppe in Pietraperzia (EN) and consists in the recitation in verse of the evangelical episode which recalls "The Flight into Egypt", in particular when Herod's soldiers are sent around to look for the Child. The procession of the Festival usually starts from the parish of Santa Maria di Gesù and, having arrived in Piazza Madrice, finds Herod's soldiers waiting for it who start the scenic representation. The soldiers' clothing resembles that of the Spanish knights with hat, silk cloaks, tight trousers, black belt, leather boots, white gloves and saber.
The Holy Family, frightened by the presence of the Herodian soldiers, stops.
The declamation of the verses begins, the origins of which date back to the second half of the 1700s, when the Barrese abbot Giuseppe Nicolò Baldassarre Russo thought of versifying, according to his free interpretation, the evangelical episode of "The Flight into Egypt".
Thus the three guards explain the reason that drives them to kill the innocent people of Israel, but with the famous statement "Ah, stop the barbaric hand!" the Angel dissuades them from carrying out the atrocious act.
The three repentant officers retreat from the scene, returning to their homes. Thus the Holy Family can access the stage where there is a large table set with food generously offered by the faithful.
The event ends with the recitation of some verses by the Angel, with the blessing of the table given by the Child Jesus and with the appetizing verification of the goodness of the food by the three actors who play the Holy Family.
The first performance in Pietraperzia was organized on 19 March 1924 by the carpenters who were members of the "Regina Margherita" workers' society.
