The Easter religious rites: the Cunfrunta in Stilo.

On Easter Sunday in Stilo they celebrate a suggestive and unique procession called the Cunfrunta to conclude Holy Week.

It’s a religious folk rite which takes place in the central-southern villages of Calabria taking several names such as Affruntata, Cunprunta , Cumprunta, Ncrinata, Svelata or A’ Giunta. This procession tells the meeting among Madonna, St. Giovanni the Apostle and the risen Jesus, and for this reason it’s called the Cunfrunta which means in local dialect “the meeting“.

On Easter Sunday, Stilo becomes the stage of this performing and it’s narrow streets and squares are full of faithful and tourists. Stilo is a beautiful little hamlet perched on the mountain facing on the Ionian Sea. It has a Byzantine soul and often it’s identified with its Cattolica, a small Byzantine church of the 9th century. During Holy Week, the local people gather each other in celebratory and devotional moments and for preparing this important final event of Easter Sunday.

When the time comes, everything becomes solemn. The 3 statues of the 3 main characters, Madonna, Jesus and St. Giovanni the Apostle, are carried around the alleys of the village on the shoulders of the men. St. Giovanni goes to Madonna who wear a black cloak because she’s in mourning, to announce that Jesus is risen and then he comes back to Him. At the beginning the steps of the men who carry the statue are slow. The Madonna cannot believe him, so St. Giovanni goes again to Madonna to confirm his Resurrection and this time the men walk faster along the street lined by a sizable crowd.

Now Jesus is lifted by the men and Madonna run towards him: her black cloak flies away showing her coloured dress and her blond hair. This is the most suggestive moment, but also the most important because the local people say if something goes wrong a bad presage falls on the community. Once the meeting between them is happened, the band f the village play a triumphal music and a crown is put on the Madonna’s head.

The statues of Madonna, Jesus and San Giovanni when they meet each other – Cunfrunta- Photo by Mario Fiorenza

At this time all the 3 statues are shown to people: a big applause fill the square with a great emotion by the audience.

It’s Calabria to meet!

Valeria Bisciglia

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