Lu Signuri di li Fasci - Good Friday

A rite unique in the world

In Pietraperzia, a small town in the province of Enna in the heart of Sicily, Good Friday is no ordinary procession. Lu Signuri di li Fasci is considered a rite unique in the world, recognized as intangible heritage of the Sicilian Region, drawing thousands of visitors every year from across the island, neighboring Calabria, and even abroad, where Pietraperzia's emigrant communities have recreated it.

The beam, the ribbons, and the Crucifix

The heart of the rite is an imposing 8.5-meter-tall cypress beam, topped with an ancient Crucifix. At the base of the cross, on an iron ring, nearly two hundred white linen ribbons are tied, each over thirty meters long (about thirty-three, symbolizing the years of Christ) and about forty centimeters wide. The faithful hold the other end of the ribbons, and by tightening or loosening them, they keep the massive structure balanced throughout the route. Each ribbon represents a vow, passed down from father to son: the list of ribbons is published months in advance. Reflecting the light of the lamps, the white fabric creates a spectacle that observers compare to a snow-capped mountain topped by the Crucifix.

How the day unfolds

Celebrations begin in the afternoon at the Chiesa del Carmine, with the "scinnuta" (lowering) of the Crucifix, followed by the Passion rites in the Mother Church. At dusk, the beam is extracted horizontally from the church and placed in the adjacent square; in the evening, the vertical raising takes place, a highlight greeted by the invocation "Pietà e Misericordia, Signuri". The procession then winds through the streets of the historic center for several hours, with stops and restarts, accompanied by three brass bands, the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, the urn of the Dead Christ, and traditional funeral chants. The rite concludes late at night with the "passamanu", the passing of the ancient Crucifix from hand to hand inside the church.

Devotion and tradition

In the afternoon, the confreres tie "misureddi"—blessed red ribbons—to the Christ, which are then tied to the wrists or ankles of the devotees. Organized by the Confraternita Maria SS. del Soccorso, the event is both an act of deep faith and a major identity-defining event for the entire community of Pietraperzia, in the province of Enna.

When it takes place

The rite always falls on Good Friday, a movable date of Holy Week. For those wishing to attend, it is best to arrive in Pietraperzia in the afternoon to follow the entire sequence, from the lowering of the Crucifix to the night procession.