Easter Encounter ('Ncontru)

The Easter Encounter in Lercara Friddi

The Easter Encounter, called 'u 'Ncontru in the local dialect, is the sacred pageant that concludes Holy Week in Lercara Friddi, a town in the Sicani Mountains in the province of Palermo, Sicily. It is a free-form interpretation of the Virgin Mary's search for her Risen Son, featuring the intervention of Saint Michael the Archangel, which takes place on Easter morning in the scenic Piazza Duomo.

A tradition dating back to the 18th century

The representation originated in the second half of the 18th century, when the statue of the Madonna known as "della Pasqua" was commissioned by the Miceli family. Since then, the tradition has been passed down and refined from generation to generation: the original statue was replaced in 1956 with a fine artistic wooden version donated by Concetta Giordano Pintacuda. Today, the Encounter is one of the most heartfelt events for the community, drawing emigrants and visitors from neighboring towns back to the village.

How the ritual unfolds

The three statues depart from different churches and converge on Piazza Duomo. The Risen Christ is carried by the brothers of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Crucifix, dressed in black, starting from the Church of San Matteo; the Madonna is carried by young people in white with blue sashes and bands, from the Church of Sant'Alfonso; Saint Michael the Archangel, dressed in white with a red sash, acts as the intermediary.

• The Angel traverses the square, preceded by a drum roll, "searching" for the Risen Christ in every corner;
• Saint Michael makes three trips back and forth between the two statues to organize the encounter;
• at exactly noon, the statues advance toward the center of the square and bow to one another;
• a thunderous round of applause and the festive sound of bells break the silence, marking the joy of the Resurrection.

The 'isàta' of the banners

Immediately after the encounter, the isàta degli stendardi (raising of the banners) takes place: the confraternity flags, which had been lowered until that moment, are raised toward the sky. The first banner hoisted perfectly vertically, without any swaying, is considered the winner and earns the privilege of leading the other confraternities during processions throughout the entire liturgical year. It is a moment of healthy competition and great popular participation, watched closely by the entire square.

Lercara's Holy Week

The Encounter is the culmination of an intense Holy Week that in Lercara Friddi also includes the Living Via Crucis and the evocative Good Friday procession. The town's religious calendar then continues with the feast of the patron saint Maria Santissima di Costantinopoli, celebrated in August, and the Feast of Saint Joseph in March.