The Holy Week rites in Sant’Angelo Muxaro follow the traditional liturgical sequence observed in many other places (Palm Sunday procession, crucifixion and deposition of Christ on Good Friday, and the meeting between the Risen Christ and the Virgin Mary on Easter Sunday); nevertheless, they present certain distinctive traits unique to this community, which make the celebrations a stand-alone cultural and spiritual event.

The rites, a unique case in the surrounding area, begin on the Sunday prior to Palm Sunday, with the ritual of raising the veil that covers the main altar of the Mother Church. This act symbolizes the transitional period of preparation for Easter: an ancient ritual once widespread in churches throughout Sicily, especially during the Spanish period, and still performed today in only a few places—such as the churches of San Domenico and Sant’Agostino in Palermo.

On the morning of Palm Sunday, the traditional procession takes place: blessed palms are carried from the Church of the Carmelo to the Mother Church. In the afternoon, however, a unique ritual occurs—one with no known parallels elsewhere: the Procession of the Veiled Christ. The statue of Christ—destined to be crucified on Good Friday—is placed on a veiled bier and, after a stop in the Mother Church, is brought from the Church of the Carmelo to the small chapel of the Virgo Dolorosa (Our Lady of Sorrows), where it will remain until Good Friday.

On Good Friday at 3:00 PM, the processions begin with the statues of Jesus the Nazarene and the Sorrowful Virgin, departing on separate routes and meeting at the upper part of the town’s main square. This encounter is repeated three times, with men in red cloaks carrying the Nazarene and women in blue cloaks carrying the Virgin. The procession then continues toward Calvary, where the crucifixion takes place: the statue of Christ is placed in a funerary urn and the Virgin is set beside Him. At the conclusion of the crucifixion, the lamentations begin, sung by a local group of cantors.

At 9:00 PM, the evening procession starts from the Mother Church and makes its way to Calvary. The Christ urn is accompanied by the band and the lament singers. Upon arrival, the Deposition is enacted, accompanied by alternating performances from the lament group and the musical band. Finally, the urn is brought back to the church and placed at the center of the nave. Christ is once again veiled, and the lamentations are repeated inside the church.

At midnight on Holy Saturday, the veil falls, revealing the statue of the Risen Christ.

On Easter Sunday, after the 10:00 AM Mass, the statues of the Risen Christ and the Virgin Mary begin two separate processions. They arrive at the town’s main square, where a statue of an angel descends on a rope and symbolically removes the Virgin’s black veil. This marks the Rite of the Encounter, carried out in four phases: the Virgin kisses the feet, hands, and side of the Risen Christ, culminating in an embrace and the release of doves into the sky.

A notable recent revival is the reintroduction—in 2023 after more than 70 years—of the tradition of the Easter Arches. The Good Friday and Easter Sunday encounters now take place beneath three arches, reminiscent of the Spanish-era triumphal arches: a central canopy-style arch and two classical-style arches positioned on either side. These are built with carob branches and reeds, decorated with seasonal fruits (oranges and lemons), and illuminated on Easter Sunday with chandeliers shaped like the “Nimpe” from the old Mother Church.

The Holy Week rites in Sant’Angelo Muxaro display a temporal complexity and liturgical uniqueness rarely found elsewhere. The raising and lowering of the Easter veil (a legacy of centuries-old Spanish traditions once widespread across Sicily), the unique Procession of the Veiled Christ, and—equally significant—the symbolic revival of the Easter Arches all underscores the community’s strong commitment to preserving its own identity.

 

This element has been included in the Register of Intangible Heritage of local interest of the Municipality of Sant’Angelo Muxaro, as part of Intervention 5 “Activation of the Observatory on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Territory through the application of the REIL methodology – Register of Intangible Heritage of Local Interest”, within the “Mito, storia e tradizioni agropastorali” project, funded by the NRRP (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), Mission: Digitalisation, innovation, competitiveness, culture and tourism, Component: Tourism and culture 4.0, Investment 2.1 “Attractiveness of villages.” CUP: E69I22000140006.