Perdon de Barbana

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The island of Barbana

The Perdòn de Barbana is the most important religious festival in Grado . The festival is celebrated on the first Sunday in July and consists mainly of a procession during which the statue of the Madonna and Child is transported from the Grades Basilica of Sant'Eufemia to the nearby island of Barbana . The festival is also known as the festival of the Grades fishermen.

Origin of the procession

The origin of the Perdòn de Barbana goes back to the year 1237 to thank the Madonna for the end of a plague epidemic. In that year, the then Patriarch Leonardo Querini promised to visit the Madonna statue every year and to carry it through Grado. Originally the procession took place on July 2nd for the Feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary , in which at least one family member from each Gradeser family had to take part. When 56 boats in the Grades fishing fleet sank in a storm in 1925, all the castaways were rescued after calling the Madonna. A procession was promised again, which has taken place annually since then. Today the Gradeser pray during the procession for a new good fishing year and the protection of the fishermen at work.

The course of the Perdòn de Barbana

The main nave Stella del Mare with the Madonna statue

The festival traditionally begins on the first Saturday in July. This Saturday is known as Sabo Grando . The harbor district is festively decorated on the night from Friday to Saturday. In the evening the traditional Concerto del Sabo Grando of the Banda Civica Città di Grado (City Chapel of Grado) takes place, as well as a large fireworks display, which is shot on the sea and the Spiaggia Principale . The festivities start early on Sunday with a service in the Basilica of Sant'Eufemia. From there, the Madonna statue is carried by the Portatori della Madonna to the port of Grado. They are accompanied by the Banda Civica di Grado ( Grado town chapel) as well as by many locals, the fishermen from Grades and onlookers.

The statue is loaded onto a large fishing boat, which has been converted into a festival boat and festively decorated. Then countless festively decorated fishing boats leave the port of Grado and drive through the lagoon to the island of Barbana. From there, the Madonna statue is carried to the church of Barbana, where a service is held on it. This service takes place in good weather in the open air.

In the afternoon the boats will return to Grado and the statue of the Madonna will be ceremoniously carried back to the Basilica of Sant'Eufemia. The solemn conclusion of the procession is formed by the Te Deum and a concluding service in the Basilica of Grado.

Others

Further large processions to Barbana take place every year on August 15th for the Assumption of Mary and on September 8th for the Birth of Mary .

literature

  • Evelyn Rupperti: Grado . The near south in every season. Carinthia Verlag, Vienna 2007, ISBN 978-3-85378-617-8 , p. 99-104 .

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