A mystical Easter in Umbria

Holy Week in Assisi

Celebrations for the Christian Easter are held in almost every town in Umbria, but it is certainly  Assisi, thanks to its evocation of sanctuary-museum-medieval town and thanks to the intensity of the performances and to the important spiritual history that distinguishes it from other towns, which is the place that attracts pilgrims and travellers the most to celebrate Easter.
The celebrations begin on Palm Sunday, with the ritual of the blessing of the olive branches which takes place in all the basilicas and churches.
In the Cathedral of San Rufino  the high Mass of the Chrism is celebrated in which the holy oils are blessed, while on Holy Thursday, the fourteenth century Scavigliazione ceremony is held, the ceremony of the Deposition from the Cross.
Throughout Holy Thursday Christ's Last Supper is remembered by visiting several churches, in memory of the pain suffered by Jesus Christ in more than one place.
In the Church of San Rocco, there is the traditional adoration of Jesus in the tabernacle interspersed with the typical chants of the Polyphonic Choir.

Via Crucis in Umbria
On Good Friday, the most intense and moving day of the whole week, the martyrdom of Christ is relived in most towns in Umbria in the "Via Crucis" or representation of the passion of Jesus through live representations. Evocative celebrations in Todi, Gualdo Tadino, Montefalco, Terni, Perugia, Gubbio, Sigillo, Fossato di Vico, Cascia and Norcia.
 In  Assisi  the traditional procession takes the body of Christ from the Cathedral of San Rufino to the Basilica of San Francesco stopping briefly in the cloistered monasteries along the way. In the evening there is the impressive procession which dates back to medieval times along the streets of the historic centre which are lit exclusively by torchlight.
 In Assisi during the Easter Saturday Vigil in expectation of the High Easter Mass, the paschal candle is lit which will then be put out on Ascension day. On the morning of Easter Monday, the memory of the angel who, at dawn, comforted the women at the tomb of Jesus is relived, while  evening vespers brings Holy Week to a close.

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