This is a special day for our valley, Chisone, Germanasca and Torre Pellice, as it is home to about 70% of all Protestants in all of Italy, and the spiritual home of the first religious groups to break away from the Catholic church and were persecuted for it, for many long years, centuries actually.
Prepared Bonfire ready to light
We can hear the beating of the drums from down in the valley, as they prepare to march in traditional costume to meet their neighbors in the next village and worship together, afterwards they will eat and drink a few celebratory dishes and generally enjoy the day with frineds and family.
Last night there should have been bonfires recreating the proclamation, granting them citizenship, in 1848, to finally be able to vote and practice their religion out in the open without fear of persecution. It was a long time coming. Our valleys are known as the Valedesian valleys, from being followers of Waldo of Lyons, he is buried in Torre Pellice and as they are a bit remote and tucked up into a large expanse of mountainous region that is scarely populated. It may seem inhospitable to some, but it is a beautiful part of the alps and has afforded a life to many in a sometimes harsh enviroment, but one where it's easy to feel close to the heavens and yet grounded here to a land that yields a modest living. It's a day to celebrate and be thankful for what we have and we are grateful.
I have a couple of other post about this celebration if you would like a bit more information a pictures click here or a traditional recipe of filled cabbage packets in a broth recipe, click here.
4 comments:
What an interesting celebration. I love the history of it and your pictures are divine... especially since I can't get to the alps this year. Beautiful!
Ah, now that's one to celebrate. Did they become Lutheran?
Thanks Barbara, it is interesting celebration. Their religion is called Valdesian named after their leader Walden (pronounced Valden). As they migrated from here they came to be a a variety of religions, of which Luthern doesn't seem to one of them. They came to be a variety of smaller less well known churches though out the US, and south Americal
There was a Waldensian church in Manhattan at one point. My mother-in-laws' family became Presbyterian in the US and some became Methodist. The largest American Waldensian community is in North Carolina: http://www.waldensianpresbyterian.org/
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