Cousin count = 39

Yesterday was a special day – “La Festa in onore di Maria SS. Delle Grazie” – the patron saint day for Acquavella.  I would spend the entire day in the village.  I arrive just in time to see the start of the first procession.  It is a very short one that only walks about 1 block.  The procession is bringing the 2 gold crowns to the church so they can be placed on the head of the Madonna and baby Jesus.  In the church everyone is waiting as the statue is taken down from its normal place high above the alter.   The gold crowns are then placed on the heads in place of silver crowns.  A large frame of flowers is then placed around the statue.  I was a bit too slow and was unable to get any pictures of the procession but I do have one from inside the church. 

Inside the curch

Also, after the crowning the church bells peal and the band plays - a quick video gives you a flavor of the sounds - almost a bit confusing but very normal for the festa. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq6QPSJ17z8&feature=plcp

After the procession and ceremony inside the church everyone chats for a while then returns home as later in the evening the grand procession will take place. I take the time to walk around the town and take photos – this town is so beautiful.

Everyone visits today!

Views of Acquavella, Italy

 It is wonderful to see that there is some construction going on.  You might think you don’t want to see new buildings but for the village to survive it must progress.  It still embraces the old but there are quite a few changes since my last visit.  As I am walking through town I meet a few cousins I have not seen yet.  They don’t live in the village but the family house is still owned by them and they are returning to spend the day in Acquavella for the festa.

 They invite me to spend the day with them and I agree.  This is also the birthday of one of the cousins so the family will all be together to celebrate - a great opportunity for me to spend time with all of them.    I find out that one of the younger cousins is now engaged.  No date has been set for the wedding – possibly in one year.   Celeste (engaged cousin) is an engineer and recently graduated from college.  Her fiancé is a soccer player for a team in Avellino.  The family has brought everything they need for the afternoon lunch to the house.  It was a great lunch and fun to spend time catching up on everyone’s life.  The husband of one cousin has been a lead person helping with the aftermath of the earthquake near Bologna.  He is a structural engineer (I think) and is working to help inspect buildings to determine the extent of the damage.  They tell me many people are still without homes and living in tents.   We talk a bit of politics (icky) but mostly fun topics – even American sports! 

 Cousin Rosanna (cooking pasta)

Cousin Marinella with two Birthday tortas!  The white one is a very local (Acquavella) speciality!

 As it gets close to 8 p.m. we move upstairs to an outside terrace so we can have a great view of the procession as it passes by the house.  I took a video of the entire procession. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfaQQMuILKA&feature=youtu.be


The flower displays are made by each person to show her devotion to the Madonna.  They are to only be carried by this person or a family member.  They are carried on their heads and many walk barefoot to sacrifice for the Madonna.  This procession will walk throughout the entire village and I find out later it takes more than one hour - and it was very hot with no breeze!  After the procession passes the house we head down to the center of town where all the activity is and everyone mingles.   The town has now been lit up with beautiful candles to light the small pathways as well as the beautiful light displays along the main streets.

Nearing the end of the procession they have been walking for over one hour!

Pathways are lit with candles

Many people come back to the village for the festa, like my cousins.  They grew up here so they are seeing many old friends and of course lots of family. I see many of the Gentile cousins and we greet and chat a bit.  It is a special day for the village and it is wonderful to see so many people support it.   This is a very important tradition for this village and for Italy – one we most likely would never see in the U.S.  This is what makes this country so unique and special – traditions live on!