Odds and ends about Sagra del Fuoco

info from the the site of Sagra del fuoco in English>>

The celebrations honouring Our Lady of Intercession commit the whole town that on this occasion splits into seven quarters dating back to the eighteenth century.

The solemn coronation of the Madonna took place on 8th September 1824 and was carried out by Cardinal Lambruschini, but Our Lady had been worshipped by our elders for ages as Patron and Protector of Recco. The inhabitants of Recco that had emigrated to America brought along their devotion and on the fest day they used to send donations.

It is remembered that the old sailships from Recco were named “Our Lady of Intercession” and kept the holy image on board.

On 8th Spetember at 3.30 am the quarters greet the birth of Virgin Mary with traditional salutes of guns after which there is the dawn mass.

During the war and in the first years of the rebuilding of Recco, the feast has always taken place, in spite of all the problems. The feast celebrating Our Lady has helped the rebirthing of everyday life and the quarter people, to make up the money for the fireworks, went to remove the rubble from the rebuilding yards.

The Firework Feast brings every year to Recco thousands of fans from all over Italy and in 2000 the Committee of Quarters awarded a prize to the dean of followers, Don Antonio ‘e Marianella, or better Antonio De Rosa, who has seen all our fireworks without interruption since 1950. He's a great expert in fireworks and his judgements are feared by all the firework masters. “…Recco is a great shop-window. The fire master that makes a mistake knows that the following year he won't be called again…”

One of the lost traditions was to lighten the windows with oil lamps made with painted glasses that made the streets gorgeous.

visit the site of Sagra del fuoco in English>>