The Mysteries

In Sicily, the Mysteries are rites in the form of processions, dating back to the time of Spanish domination.

These Easter festivities are strongly rooted traditions, with entire families and generations participating.

The pilgrimages and processions parade through the Sicilian streets, with an enormous following of people, exited to witness up close the statues and re-enactments on display.

The procession of the Mysteries in Trapani is the longest religious display in Italy, lasting 24 hours and among the oldest, repeated for already 400 years.

The Mysteries are 20 artistic representations of the Passion and Death of Christ. The very heavy statues are carried through the city of Trapani, putting on a show of lights, sounds, colours and emotions. They are carried on the shoulders of ten men (the massari) who gently bob and sway during the 24 hour procession, to the music of live bands. The statues are illuminated in such a spectacular way as to exhibit certain facial expressions and movements of sadness and suffering.

Very early morning the men are re-joined by the women and children, leading up the way back into the main church, where the women are weeping for the departed and the men are breaking down in tears after 24 emotional hours of carrying the statues.