Santa Corona, with a very familiar name, protector from pandemics and pestilences and patroness of the small town of Canepina that celebrates it every year with a spectacular procession.
During this period, all of Italy has experienced the coronavirus pandemic.
Here in Canepina during the most difficult moments of everyday life and not, we rely on our Holy Protector: Santa Corona.
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Santa Corona - picture by Pietro Minella[/caption]
A name that is kept in the heart of all Canepina residents, and is then shouted with joy during our solemn celebrations, intoning the loudest "Viva Santa Corona!".
Now that I hear her name from everyone's lips, and not for the feelings of celebration and joy that we share every year in our community, it shocks me.
Corona is a little-known saint, invoked against pestilence, and the devotion of us Canepines to our patroness has ancient origins. In fact, it was discovered from some historical documents that our church dedicated to Santa Corona (LINK) existed and was already cared for with devotion in the fourteenth century by the inhabitants of our ancient town.
Her history is largely shrouded in mystery.
History and stories tell us that she suffered a long martyrdom at the hands of Roman or pagan soldiers. She was forced to accept a painful and cruel torture, feet and hands tied to two palms by her torturers, was executed by letting her body be torn apart by the force of the two trees.
The symbols of her martyrdom are still recognizable today in our municipal coat of arms, which bears the unmistakable "Crown" and the two palm trees.
The Feast of Santa Corona is the most important religious festival in our town, not only because she is the Patroness of Canepina, but also because the celebrations involve entire families with a mixture of pride and faith.
The celebrations for us are important, and while the religious rites have remained unchanged and respected to the last point, the folkloristic part of the fair that follows the procession is always full of new events.
The stalls, the lunches based on ceciliani (long gnocchi) and maccaroni, and the shows.
Everything is first assessed as works of art by our committees in charge, elected every year on the day of the feast, who collaborate with the parish to combine the two aspects in the most respectful and enjoyable way possible.
This Saint occupies a huge place in the heart of every Canepina resident from an early age.
Being a resident of Canepina I know how it feels, I see the 'human river' that accompanies the statue through the streets of the town during the solemn procession. The emotion that is released when the immense carriage transported by the Canepinesi devotees has to make its passage through the narrow arch to finally enter the Collegiate Church.
A passage that requires the strength of all its "porters" and which, once overcome in the silence and attention of the spectators who remain with bated breath, releases the cry of "W SANTA CORONA !!!" through all the streets of the village .
A spectacular experience that to explain it you have to have lived it, and it does not stop moving me every year that I participate.
The festival is the most awaited appointment by us Canepina residents, which unfortunately this year due to a cursed virus will not take place.
We know the effort that the members of the committee make every year to carry on this tradition. The effort of the groups of volunteers who prepare the traditional infiorata (path of flowers) for the day of the procession, the merchants and restauranteurs who lend themselves to welcome tourists and friends to their premises.
A year of preparations and efforts that now seem to have vanished into thin air.
It is in moments like this that as members of the community of Canepina we have to think precisely of our Saint. A very courageous and faith-filled young woman who, despite the torture, managed to give herself strength at a time when faith could find no place.
Now is the time not to lose hope, to embrace our traditions and to take strength from the emotions we have experienced together during the past years. Those beautiful moments where her golden carriage shone in the sun together with the love of the porters and the faithful who accompanied her on her journey.
We will come back to see it, and it will be a shower of applause and tears for all of us.
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