Procession "Ecce Homo"

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The ancient tradition of the “Ecce Homo” procession is unique in Umbria and survives in Piegaro.
Every year, on Holy Thursday of Easter, the statue of the Ecce Homo is carried in procession through the streets of the village.
The statue of the Ecce Homo is kept in a glass case in the left altar of the small church of the Madonna della Crocetta.
Throughout the year, with the exception of the Easter period, it is covered by a red cloth.
The Holy Thursday Procession focuses on the wooden simulacrum of Jesus, whose iconography refers to Christ presented to the Jewish people after the flagellation ordered by the Roman proconsul Pontius Pilate.
The Ecce Homo is dressed in a scarlet tunic, his hands are tied and his head, crowned with thorns, is dripping with blood.
The work, venerated by the people of Piegare, dates back to the eighteenth century.
The entire town is illuminated by torches and thousands of multicolored candles.
The procession starts and returns to the church of the Madonna della Crocetta after a long journey through the streets of the village.
The parade is opened by the members of the Confraternity of Death, in black capes, one of whom carries on his shoulder the trunk, a large black cross more than three meters high and weighing over 50 kg. of hollow wood: followed by the members of the Confraternity of the Sacrament, in white and red pilgrim capes.
Four of them, in turn, carry the statue, while six others hold the canopy.
Thanks to the contribution of local associations and the Parish of Piegaro, you can attend the re-enactment of the passion of Christ with figures in period costume.
The Good Friday procession follows that of the previous day but begins and ends in front of the parish church and the trunk is kept vertically balanced.
In place of the Ecce Homo, the statue of the dead Christ is carried in procession, followed by that of Our Lady of Sorrows, supported by four girls completely dressed in black.
The candles covered with colored paper make the journey of the faithful particularly suggestive.
And the candles made by the young people of the town remain on display along the streets of the center until the eve of Easter.