TRADITIONS OF MILANO
The Ambrosian ritual, in vigor in period quite previous S.
Ambrogio, that however had the merit to see it deeply again, makes Milan Church different from the Roman one. In the Diocese of Milan the Advent begins on November 11th and lasts for six weeks (in the roman ritual it begins on November 26th and lasts for 4 weeks). The Lent then does not begin on the Wednesday of Ashes but on the next Sunday. Other differences between the Ambrosian ritual and the Roman one consist of the colors of the sacred vestments, in the celebration of the Mass, in the provision of Sacraments.
Fair of the "O Bei! O Bei!"
The festivity of
S. Ambrogio encloses in itself religious, popular, cultural manifestations and represents a meaningful event for Milan. Every year Milan remembers its patron, going to the Mass, celebrated from the Archbishop, in the basilica that is dedicated to the Saint, following a ritual that is remained constant in the time. The city, through its official representatives and those one from the economic and productive categories, renders homage to the Patron. Since 1866 in the ways around the Basilica there is the Fair of the
"O Bei! O Bei!", a popular manifestation particularly beloved by Milan. The festivity has ancient origins and goes back to 1288. The manifestation takes place from December 7th to 8th and it is famous because of the presence of numerous stalls full of colors and scents, that create an evocative atmosphere. You can find toys, typical sweets, antique objects and junk. For the children the fair is like the "country of the toys" and it is the right occasion to be vitiated by grandparents and parents... In the same day the Theatre to the Scale opens its operistica season.
TYPICAL MASKS OF AMBROSIAN CARNIVAL
Meneghino and
Cecca:
the Milan masks
Meneghino appears on the end of the 1600's in the dialectal commedie of
Carlo Maria Maggi. He wears a hat with three tips, a red and brown long jacket, green slacks above the knee and red and white socks. Under the jacket he wears a yellow shirt and a handkerchief around to the neck. The shoes are brown. He holds a pink umbrella. His true name is
Domenico, but he is called
"Domeneghin". Later
"Cecca" was introduced. He personifies the Milan mask that answers, always ready, to funny questions.
Festival of the Carroccio
Legnano
Last Sunday of May
The ceremony commemorates the battle of
Legnano. In Milan on the eve There is the first phase of the celebrations, constituted from one parade of the representatives of the eight contrades of Legnano and the six ancient doors of Milan. The day after, on Sunday morning, at
Legnano the celebrations start with a solemn mass on the altar erected on the
Carroccio, that it is pulled ahead by three braces of white oxen and overflowed by the Cross of
Ariberto and by the
Martinella, a hut that served as callback for the combatants. The conclusion of the festival is represented by the Race of the Prize, disputed by eight horses, one for each district, ridden without saddleback by jockeys.The winning district receives in delivery the Cross of
Ariberto that is conserved in its church until the next year.
Procession of Magi
Epiphany
The ancient basilica of S.
Eustorgio conserves a large sarcophagus with the relics of the "Re Magi", recently given back from the Cathedral of Colony, where they had been brought from Federico Barbarossa in 1162. The morning of the Epiphany a procession led by the "Re Magi", accompanied also by camels and elephants, starts from the Dome and arrives to S. Eustorgio to offer gifts.
"Ciarlasco" Autumn
Lacchiarella
From the end of September to the half of October
The manifestation consists of several initiatives and plays like the race of the "borleura". The more characteristic show is the race of the goose: the seven cantons of the city put in contest a goose yoked to a cart, that they lead with reins along a predetermined distance.
Festival of the "Canals"
The First Sunday of June
It is a great popular festivity. Along the illuminated "canals", stalls are prepared, new and old things, handicraft and sweets. There are a lot of animations: music, songs, Folk shows, games, fireworks, sport contests (for example, swimming from Abbiategrasso to Milan).
Festival of the Saint Nail
Monza
The second Sunday of September
According to the tradition, with a nail of the cross of Christ the famous "the iron crown" was forged- guarded in the Chapel of Teodolinda- with which the king of Italy were crowned (Napoleone in 1805 encircled it by himself). The crown is brought in procession and then it remains exposed in the dome until the vespers.
