Holy Week in Ceriana and Confraternities

Palm Sunday, this year falling on March 20^th, marks the beginning of the traditional Holy Week, a tradition very felt in all of Italy. Many different ancient customs in Western Liguria make this moment of celebration a special one. The town of Ceriana - about 20 kilometres west of Imperia and bordering Badalucco - especially, offers visitors an amazing experience of a week-long ritual that goes back in time.

The thousand-years old ceremonies and traditions of the town will be, in fact, the protagonists of the Holy Week: during the afternoon of Holy Thursday, the horns carved in chestnut tree bark will begin to blow, then the Eucharist will be held in the evening, while Ceriana's Confraternities will sing Miserere, Stabat Mater and penitential Chants.

On Good Friday, Confraternities will march in procession in their traditional garments through the picturesque alleys while singing ancient penitential chants. The entire town livens up and joins the chanting following with the tasting of local delicacies prepared at the main square, such as frisciöi - typical Easter fritters. Ceriana's fritters are offered in three alternatives: made of beans and beets, or with salt cod or sweets, with apples - undoubtedly best served with a glass of good red wine such as Rossese.

Ceriana's Confraternities are very ancient, probably first established in the 13th century. The oldest among all four is that of Oratorio dei Rossi di Santa Caterina. It is during mid 14th century that two other Confraternities were born, Verdi di Santa Marta and Azzurri della Madonna della Visitazione while that of Neri di Misericordia have a more recent history.

All Confraternities members wear a white dress with a cord and a cape with their traditional color, while the Confraternity Neri della misericordia are completely dressed in black.

It is Confraternity's duty to attend with pennant, torches and crosses the major liturgical ceremonies of the year.