Easter in Licata

Its Easter in Licata, and while this holiday may not enjoy the fervour it does in Greece, it's still a very big deal. Palm Sunday was the week before and featured lots of fireworks. Then Good Friday feature a race and great to-do between Jesus and Mary. The crowds form up on the main street early and it gets very crowded. There are lots of toy sellers selling all sorts of Easter equipment, like SpongeBob SquarePants, water pistols, kites and other religious implements.

Crowds begin to swell early on Good Friday

Cruisers grab a show side table early on

Syd, Tina and Morten; some of our cruiser friends.

The main event is staged in Corso Umberto, main street in Licata

First, Jesus, buoyed up by 30 or so of his staunchest defenders, sashays out of one of the main churches. He's lumping his own cross, so its heavy work for the carriers, who sway in time to some inner beatitude. Then Mary, similarly conveyed, sallies out of her church, conveniently on a road at right angles to the big guy. Sailing forth at a snail-like pace, their paths cross on the main street of town. Mary catches sight of Jesus, and then RUNS down the main parade to be with her guy.

Mary sees the Christ, and then its ON. 

She's now on the move!!

They meet and enter a mutual rocking kind of swoon together, their followers and supporters transported into the throes of ecstasy. They groove on back down the the street, where they crucify Jesus again. Didn't they already do that once? Isn't there some sort of statute of limitations in Roman Law?

Mary is reunited with Jesus

... and they head back down the street...

... kind of rock and rolling together to some heavenly beat ...

... to where they crucify Jesus all over again!

Its inscrutable to me, but they all seem to love it. Its a huge family affair, and the fireworks and marching bands continue for the next few days. Its almost like modernity never touched this neck of the woods.  Have a great Easter, from Pavlov!