The Horse Fire (Il Cavallo di Fuoco)

For a neophyte the horse fire appears eccentric and exotic, it is so.

The particularity of this "horse" as said by Alfredo "without nitrite" it is made of wood, iron and sheet metal.

It has aslo, historical origins and it can be observed every sunday after Easter because we remember the "Madonna di San Giovanni" (St. John's Madonna) our patron.

The local tradition narrates that in date 10 May 1682 the bishop decided to homage the Madonna with fireworks, he called a man from Atri (=Town in the South) he arrived at Ripatransone riding a white horse and throwing the fireworks against the local people.

Now I'll discuss about the "poem of the horse" written by Alfredo Rossi, he was my teacher at the primary school.

This is a poetical summary of the sensation of every inhabitants of Ripatransone adult and child.

This is also an historical document of this folkloristic event, describing Piazza Condivi, the darkness broken by the fireworks colouring it of every color and the e omnipresence silence of Ripatransone frightening every human being.

Cavallo Di Fuoco

Ottava di Pasqua:
in piazza Condivi
fragoroso martellante sparo
lieto rimbomba
e nel cielo oscuro
della festiva sera
colorate sibilanti faville
sfrecciano impazzite.
Da trainata sagoma
di caval senza nitrito
proviene
sì festoso rumore
che gli adulti diverte,
i bimbi spaura.
(Alfredo Rossi)

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The Gleaner of Sapri's Manuscript (Written by the poet Luigi Mercantini)

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Description: In the center is the Madonna dressed in regal robes and seated on a throne. On her right knee is Baby Jesus holding a pomegranate fruit. To the right is Saint Catherine of Alexandria with almond-shaped eyes. At her side is the cogwheel, a symbol of her martyrdom. It is said that after she was tied to the wheel, the sky was covered with black clouds and then a lightning bolt split the wheel in two. The Saint holds the palm tree, symbolizing her martyrdom. Saint Sebastian is semi-naked, with his hands tied and arrows on his chest. On the cymatium is the recently resurrected Jesus Christ.

The Ripatransone Digital Library

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