TRADITIONS OF BERGAMO
Festivity of average Lent
Bergamo
Sunday of half Lent
In the ways of the city keeps one paraded of allegorical wagons and masked groups, with musical bands. The procession is opened from the duke of Pontida Public square in carriage, to its continuation there are armed dignitaries in medieval custom; Giopi and Margi do not lack, traditional masks of Bergamo. To late evening the fire of the old woman is previewed, it is worth to say one of the evils publics of the city comes written on a billboard that then is sawed to pieces and burnt. The festivity is concluded with songs, dances and fires of artifice.
Oath
Pontida
Sunday close to the 7april
The emperor Federico Barbarossa had invaded Italy and with one political soldier of feracious destructions, submissions and strategic alliances meant to confirm its absolute power. Milan resisted, until in 1162 it came taken from the imperial troops. But Milan still reacted and the 7 April 1167, to Pontida, tightened an alliance with Brescia, Cremona, Mantova in order to fight against the empire. With this historical oath born the Lombardic alloy that in 1176 succeeded to defeat to Legnano the Bardarossa, than in 1174 was newly come down in Italy, decided to demolish with every force resistance. The historical rievocation of this battle is begun in 1967, in the eighth centenarian of the oath. All are fases of the ancient vicissitudes come reconstructed with great cure of means, scenes, of figuring in custom. Colorful and evocative show turns out some one.
Hunting of January
Ardesio
31 january
A group of boys furiously covers the roads of the country shaking the cowbells and beating on pots in order to mark the end of the colder month of the year. To late evening, on a bonfire purposely prepared it comes burnt a puppet that it represents the Gennaione.
Corpus Domini
Gandino
Corpus Domini
The procession, of ancient origin, covers the roads of the country that, for the occasion, come rich adorned with arched of red cloth bordered of gold. To the celebration the clergy dressed with precious sacred vestments participates embroiders and the members of the confraternities with capes of varied color. In procession he comes carried a monstrance of 1527, conserved in the Museum of the Basilica. Gandino was an important center of production of drapes of wool that came extended along the distance of the procession, since, second a popular sideboard, would have protect them from the mothes.
Procession of the Saint friday
Verteva
Saint friday
According to a meticulous cerimonial, four personages with a custom orient them, sayings "the Judaeans", detach from the cross the statue of the Christ and they place it on a cataletto. This last one is carried in procession, preceded from a penitent, that it represents the Christ on the road of the calvary, on foot knots and with a red habit, and from a group of children, everyone of which brings one of the symbols of the passion. The statue of Christ is surrounded from the judeans and one guard of armed men of halberds. To the return in church, the simulacrum it remains exposed to the veneration of the faithfuls.
