01 March 2023
EASTER IN SULMONA
The town of Sulmona in Abruzzo marks Easter Sunday with La Madonna che Scappa, or the Running Madonna. The ceremony has taken place since the 11th century and is organized by the Santa Maria di Loreto Brotherhood. The men taking part, called lauretani, wear a white tunic and a green cape to symbolize purity and hope.
The procession begins at 11:00 am commencing at the medieval Church of Santa Maria della Tomba. Carried by the participants are the statues of the Risen Christ, Saint John and Saint Peter. The lauretani themselves carry the statues to the Chiesa di San Filippo Neri to announce the news of the Resurrection to the mourning Madonna of Loreto. To begin with, the Blessed Mother refuses to believe that the Christ has risen, but after the third attempt, the statue emerges from the church, carried by six lauretani.’
The Madonna is fully dressed in black traveling slowly into the main piazza, still unsure that she believes what she is being told. Suddenly, she sees her re-born son and with a loud bang, her mourning cloak is whipped away to reveal her bright green dress symbolizing new life. Twelve doves break free from underneath her cloak as the statue of Mary appears to fly to the waiting feed of her son at the end of the piazza. Bells ring, fireworks are set off, the band plays and the crowd excitedly embraces the event. Ancient folklore suggests that if the mourning coat falls freely and the doves fly high, it will be a bountiful year for their crops, the reverse is true in the event the lauretani fall whilst running to the feet of Christ with the Madonna.