Fanfare of the Jews
Description
Fanfare of the Jews
Property included in the Register of Intangible Heritage of Sicily (REIS)
The recurrence of Holy Week in San Fratello is an opportunity to attend the "Feast of the Jews". It is a village chaos that lasts three days, from Wednesday to Friday of Holy Week, which sees young individuals of the community, the "Jews", roaming the streets of the village, wearing a costume consisting of trousers and a finely sequined jacket. and a hood (peek), which generally bears the symbol of the cross on the forehead and above a long external tongue of leather. From the pointed hood follows a long animal tail that reaches down to the calves. A cluster of chains (displines) is worn tied to a wrist. Many wear on their feet a pair of raw oxhide locks (footsteps).
Today the members of the fanfare are equipped with a single piston trumpet and wear a helmet on their heads, surmounted by a hook associated with a red-blue carabiniere "lantern", on which current subjects are painted, as well as the symbol of the cross.
The function of the Sanfratellani "Jews", agitators and accusers, is to "disturb" the Good Friday procession, impersonating the flagellators the soldier who sank his spear into the side of Jesus. In today's rite all violent behavior has disappeared and the community accompanies the simulacra of Christ's passion in devout meditation, but in the past the "Jews", at an assigned space, were the object of a 'stone throwing' based on oranges: from this element probably derives the use of the hood that could repair the their face from the splashes of citrus. (Text source: REI Sheet - Sicily Region)
----------------
Technical sheet prepared by: Region of Sicily - Department of cultural heritage and Sicilian identity - CRicd: Regional center for inventory, cataloging and documentation and Sicilian regional film library
Intangible Heritage Register
N. Prog. 72
Good: Fanfare of the Jews
Book: REI - Book of celebrations
Approval date: 26-01-2007
Category: Ritual processions
Province: Messina
Municipality: San Fratello
Local denomination: Feast of the Jews
Chronological News
San Fratello was founded by integrating the Greek-Latin inhabitants with immigrants who came in the wake of the Lombards from Casale Monferrato with Adelaide or Adelasia degli Aleramici, from the Alto Novarese, from France and from Lombardy, in the twelfth century. In this town of the Nebrodi various elements of ancient origin remain unchanged, such as the Gallo-Italic dialect, pagan, carnival and Christian rituals. For example, in the period of Holy Week - one that is richer in events that reconcile the dramatic moment of Christ's passion with the joyful moment of the Resurrection - in San Fratello, to celebrate the expectation of the Resurrection we find a unique event of its kind, namely the " Fanfare of the Jews ”. Conducted on Wednesday, Thursday and Good Friday, the feast of profane origin, it recalls the moment in which the Jews beat and led Christ to Calvary. Scholars disagree on the origin of the festival, defining "the Jews" now as proponents of a "devil" or "hellish jumble" (Pitre), now as "disturbing figures" deriving from sacred medieval representations (Rubino - Cocchiara).
Recurrence: Annual
Date: Wednesday to Friday of Holy Week
Occasion: Rites of Holy Week
Function: Propitiatory
Actors: appearing "Jews" playing the fanfare
Participants: Entire city community, devotees and tourists
Description
The recurrence of Holy Week in San Fratello is an opportunity to attend the "Feast of the Jews". It is a village chaos that lasts three days, from Wednesday to Friday of Holy Week, which sees young individuals of the community, the "Jews", roaming the streets of the village, wearing a costume consisting of trousers and a finely sequined jacket. and a hood (peek), which generally bears the symbol of the cross on the forehead and above a long external tongue of leather. From the pointed hood follows a long animal tail that reaches down to the calves. A cluster of chains (displines) is worn tied to a wrist. Many wear on their feet a pair of raw oxhide locks (footsteps).
Today the members of the fanfare are equipped with a single piston trumpet and wear a helmet on their heads, surmounted by a hook associated with a red-blue carabiniere "lantern", on which current subjects are painted, as well as the symbol of the cross.
The function of the Sanfratellani "Jews", agitators and accusers, is to "disturb" the Good Friday procession, impersonating the flagellators the soldier who sank his spear into the side of Jesus. In today's rite all violent behavior has disappeared and the community accompanies the simulacra of Christ's passion in devout meditation, but in the past the "Jews", at an assigned space, were the object of a 'stone throwing' based on oranges: from this element probably derives the use of the hood that could repair the their face from the splashes of citrus.
REFERENCES
Lo Castro, Nuccio. 1992. The feast of the Jews in San Fratello: diabolical kermesse of Holy Weekin Parties, fairs, markets, edited by the Department of Education, Messina: EDAS, pp. 457-467.
Buttitta, Antoninus. 1990. The Easter holidays, sl Sicilian tourist service.
Glielmi, Nicola and Roberto Motta. 1985. The procession of the Jews of San Fratello (Messina), Trapani: Corrao graphic arts.
Pitre, Giuseppe. 1985. Cartels, pasquinades, anti, legends, customs of the Sicilian people, Sala Bolognese (BO): Publisher Forni, pp. 226-228.
Rubino, Benedetto and Giuseppe Cocchiara. 1924. Traditions and customs, novels and poems of the Sicilian people: critical exposure. Palermo: Remo Sandron.
Sellerio, Enzo. 1951-1966. San Fratello (Messina) Easter procession of the Jews, sl: Sellerio.
Sitography
Card Author: Chiara Dell'Utri
Go to Google Maps
Location
