Easter in Castelvetrano
During the celebrations of Holy Easter in Castelvetrano one of the oldest religious and popular representations in the city takes place, the traditional "Feast of Dawn", celebrated on Easter day since 1860.
The functions of Holy Week begin on Sunday della Palme with the procession of Our Lady of Sorrows. The Madonna is represented in search of her Son, who has now entered Jerusalem.
On the evening of Holy Thursday the rite of the washing of the feet takes place inside the churches and, throughout the night, the traditional visit to the tombs.
On Good Friday, after the celebration of the Passion of the Lord, the "Scinnuta di la Cruci" takes place in the chapel of the Holy Calvary, ie the "descent of the cross", during which the dead Christ is placed in a glass urn and carried in procession.
The Festa dell'Aurora takes place on Easter Sunday in Piazza Carlo d'Aragona. It is a medieval propitiatory rite linked to the Christian meaning of Easter, introduced in 1660 by the Discalced Carmelite fathers of Santa Teresa. To represent him are three statues carried on the shoulder: that of the Risen Christ, dressed in white with a flaming red flag in his hand, that of Mary the Madonna, dressed in a long black mantle, and that of an Angel. When the statues of Christ and the Madonna meet, the statue of Mary spreads her arms to cling to her son, Her black mantle falls off and the Madonna appears with a rich festive mantle. The sacred manifestation ends with the flight of doves and birds.
Dates and Scheduling
17 Apr 2025
18:00 Celebration of the Lord's Supper.
Chiesa Madre di Santa Maria Assunta
21:30 Prayer vigil.
15:00 Celebration of the Passion of the Lord.
Chiesa Madre di Santa Maria Assunta
15:30 Liturgical Celebration with the Adoration of the Cross.
Chiesa Parrocchiale di Maria SS. Annunziata
16:00 Procession of the Dead Christ and Our Lady of Sorrows
Route: Mother Church, Piazza C. d'Aragona and Tagliavia, Piazza Cavour, Marconi, Piazza N. Bixio, Via Mannone, Piazza Mateotti, Piazza J.M. Escrivà, Viale Roma up to "Calvary".
17:00 Arrival at Calvary, Sermon on the “seven words” of Christ on the Cross and Descent from the Cross.
18:00 Procession
Route: Viale Roma, p.zza J.M. Escrivà, p.zza Matteotti, via Vittorio Emanuele, p.zza Principe di Piemonte, p.zza Cavour, p.zza Carlo d'Aragona e Tagliavia, chiesa Madre.
20:00 Vigil of the Dead Christ.
Chiesa Madre di Santa Maria Assunta
19 Apr 2025
18:00 Solemn Easter Vigil.
Chiesa Madre di Santa Maria Assunta
21:00 Solemn Easter Vigil.
Chiesa Parrocchiale di Maria SS. Annunziata
20 Apr 2025
Easter Sunday
09:00 The Aurora
Procession of the Risen Christ.
Piazza Carlo D'Aragona
09:00 Holy Mass.
Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Giovanni Battista
10:30 Holy Mass.
Chiesa Parrocchiale di Maria SS. Annunziata
11:00 Holy Mass.
Chiesa Madre di Santa Maria Assunta
17:30 Holy Mass.
Chiesa Parrocchiale di Maria Santissima della Salute
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References
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