Processions

Some notes on my chosen Festivals thus far.

FESTA DE’ NOANTRI

District: Trastevere (across the Tiber)
What is NOANTRI?
The combination of the words “we” and “others” in the dialect of the people from Trastevere, noi+antri = Festival of We-Others (ourselves)
8 day long festival
Markets, dances, songs, fairs
Procession
At Beginning (every 3rd Sun in July) and End of Festival
Madonna taken through the neighborhood
Madonna Del Carmine (Joyful Virgin of the Carmelitans)
1535 fishermen pulled her out of the Tiber
Originally in San Crisogono, then moved to Santa Agata
Procession Route: From New home to Old Home
Only about 50 meters apart, but take a winding route
Pauses at each church for a blessing
2nd procession
Taken down the Tiber in a boat
hinting towards its origins
Carried by 16 men on wooden Platform
THINGS TO DO:
Visit the Churches, and icon
Find out more details about why the icon is important
Find out more about the Festivities during the week
What does it do for the people of Trastevere??
Interview some people??

FESTA DI SAN GIOVANNI

District: Monti
June 23rd: The Night of St. John
Opens Up Summer, Party of Happiness and Brotherhood
First fires of the year
Considered purifiers
Herb of St. John under your pillow:
ipet, garlic, Artemisia, verbena and rue
Witches of the New Summer, Fly around Rome to escape the “big walnut Benevento” for the great sand??
To protect your Self
St. Johns Wort Oil: walnuts
A broom and bowl of Salt outside your door
Forcing them to count the twigs on the broom, and
grains of Salt
Ate snails
Avoid quarrels and betrayals
Emphasizes the expressiveness of women
Witches are a positive “power”linked to knowledge and ancient
natural remedies
Also seen as a rebel, exclusive, naughty

THINGS TO DO:
More Information
Why witches? Why are they flying around?
What is the religious meaning?
What special events does the community have?
Why?