Horses!

San Giuseppe festival, Scicli

In Scicli, Sicily, the traditional Saint Giuseppe festival one of the most important events of the year. It is held on March 19th, which is also father's day in Italy.
Half religious half paganist this festival is really worth being seen as one of the most intimate and authentic festivals for all horse lovers!

San Giuseppe festival, Scicli

San Giuseppe festival, Scicli

San Giuseppe festival, Scicli

San Giuseppe festival, Scicli

San Giuseppe festival, Scicli

However, the real protagonists of festival of Saint Giuseppe are horses, richly barded with cloaks made by weaving a myriad of violet flowers on a jute weave. These elegant harnesses will parade through the streets of the centre, accompanied by riders in traditional peasant costume.

Madonna delle milizie, Scicli

Era in un paese’ dissi ‘era in un paese attraversato da un fiume di sassi dove facevano la fiera. L’ho dimenticato che nome aveva… E l’ho cercato, ma nessuno lo sa, dove sia. E la Madonna a cavallo era solo lì. Io ero bambino, no? E la vidi sopra il cavallo impennato che pestava i saraceni, una madonna così diversa dalle altre. Mi dicono che non esistono Madonne a cavallo”

"It was in a town," I said, "it was in a town crossed by a river of stones where they did the fair. I have forgotten its name... and I have searched for it, but no one knows where it is. And the Madonna on horseback was only there. I was a child, wasn't I? And I saw her on a horse soaring above the Saracens, such a different Madonna from the others. They tell me there are no Madonnas on horseback."

Madonna delle milizie, Scicli

Era in un paese’ dissi ‘era in un paese attraversato da un fiume di sassi dove facevano la fiera. L’ho dimenticato che nome aveva… E l’ho cercato, ma nessuno lo sa, dove sia. E la Madonna a cavallo era solo lì. Io ero bambino, no? E la vidi sopra il cavallo impennato che pestava i saraceni, una madonna così diversa dalle altre. Mi dicono che non esistono Madonne a cavallo”

"It was in a town," I said, "it was in a town crossed by a river of stones where they did the fair. I have forgotten its name... and I have searched for it, but no one knows where it is. And the Madonna on horseback was only there. I was a child, wasn't I? And I saw her on a horse soaring above the Saracens, such a different Madonna from the others. They tell me there are no Madonnas on horseback."


Elio Vittorini, il garofano rosso

Beauty

Scicli, during the summer cavalcata, an occasion so show the most beautiful horses.

Small and beautiful

Summer cavalcade, Scicli

Carriage on the street, Scicli

Promenade in town, Scicli

Complicity

The 3de day of Saint Agatha festival in Catania, the carriage of the Senate (representing the polical power as opposed to the relegious) is carried by numerous white horses. This pitcure was taken during the backstage, while the horses are getting prepared and this seemed a beautiful moment of complicity between this horse and this old man.
However is this event itself is quite traumatic for the horses as they have to pass throught the crowd and the rumor of firecrackers everywhere.