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THE FESTIVAL OF SAINT MAURO

The main religious festival in Viagrande is that of

Saint Mauro the Abbot that takes place every

year on the 15th of January, when there is a

spectacular and long awaited come out of the

Patron Saint with a splendid choreography of

fireworks.

Saint Mauro, who was Saint Benedict’s dearest

pupil, was chosen as the Patron Saint of

Viagrande towards the end of the 18th century.

According to the belief, the Saint is able to cure “not only who suffers from

rheumatism, but also who had the misfortune of breaking his legs”.

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The celebration ends on Sunday the 22nd of January.

The celebration starts

on the New Year’s

Day, when the statue

is carried from the

“Casa ‘a vara”,

made in an aisle of

the imposing Ancient

Church, destroyed by

an earthquake in

1693, to the “Chiesa

Madre”, (the main

Church).

In the night before the feast, after a nine days preparation, there is the solemn

procession of the Relic across the streets of the town centre.

Then the silver shrine is placed on the feet of the Saint.

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At the end of the religious

ceremony in the square there

is the “entry of the parties”.

The people living in the

town, on the occasion of the

celebration, are divided in

two different districts:

“Santa Caterina”, in the

southern zone, and

“Scalatelli”, in the northern

one.

The day of the festival: the “svelata”, through the acclamation of the devotees,

who, wearing a traditional white dress, shake their handkerchiefs invoking the Saint.

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At 1pm the statue of the Saint comes

out from the church through fireworks, while

the bells ring and all the people shout” Viva

San Mauro”.

A jubilant crowd welcomes the Saint in the

church square.

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The procession arrives at Viscalori and goes on

across the streets until the late night, when the statue,

greeted by fireworks, enters the church again.

On the day after the feast, there is a solemn Pontifical

Mass, celebrated by the Archbishop, who, after the

celebration, visits the town hall where he receives the

honours by the town authorities.

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