View allAll Photos Tagged Synchrony
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Poster:
Locandina:
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/coverlg_home.jpg
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/locandina.jpg
www.cinematografo.it/image-service/version/c:M2QyY2FiZTct...
www.artribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/vangelo-seco...
www.nuovodialogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vangelo-s...
.............................................................................
click to activate the small icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream (it means the monitor);
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
………………………………………………………………………
I propose here, on Flickr, a photographic story, with descriptive text, of a traditional Sicilian popular festival that is always highly anticipated, it takes place in the town of Fiumedinisi (Messina), in the last 18 years what is called the "Great Feast" has been celebrated only 3 times, always on the second Sunday of August, it was celebrated in 2007, in 2016, this year 2025, in all three editions I took photographs, those that I now present are almost all of the "Great Feast" of this year 2025. The town of Fiumedinisi is inextricably linked to her patron saint, Our Lady of the Annunciation, every year a traditional procession is held on March 24th and 25th, on the 24th the procession is made by the faithful on their knees, they carry a large lit candle with which they help themselves to support themselves, it takes place along a straight path in what is called "street of float" (it joins two churches), the next day there is another traditional procession, the two "Sacred Float," that of the Our Lady of the Annunciation and that of the Archangel Gabriel, are carried on the shoulders, followed by the faithful, through the narrow streets of the town. Then comes the "Great Feast" in August, also linked to the Annunciation, which occurs every year after many years. It is on Christmas Eve that it is announced whether that year will be the year of the Great Feast. At Christmas, "the Son of Man" is born, incarnated in Mary's womb. It is the Archangel Gabriel who announces to Mary the conception of the Son of the Most High. The iconography of the Sacred Representations depicts him kneeling before her, offering her a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The "Great Feast" in August has ancient origins dating back to the 16th century, the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. It was initially celebrated on March 25th, the religious feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it was moved to August to allow the many emigrants from all over the world to attend. In short, the "Great Feast" includes a "morning procession" led by three young men who will impersonate the three main characters on the "living float"—the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the Eternal Father. Around 11:00 a.m., the "Great Living Float," a very heavy object carried on shoulders, will make its first journey along the "street of float" (the one traveled on one's knees in March, but also on the eve of the Great Feast) with the barefoot bearers in ordinary clothing. In the afternoon, many boys and girls dressed as angels take their places on special seats on the "Great Living Float", the "three characters" (the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the "Eternal Father" at the top) take their places. Now the Great Float will make the same journey in reverse, carried on the shoulders of devotee-bearers dressed entirely in white, barefoot, thus arriving in the square in front of the church-sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS Annunziata. Once the journey has finished and the Float has been placed on the ground, the ceremony includes, and ends, with an ancient dialect song sung by the children, with microphones, who dress up as Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. A curiosity, this "Great Float", an enormous metal and wood structure, extremely heavy, requires perfect coordination between the bearers. It is essential to raise and lower it in perfect synchrony, with all its "inhabitants" atop it. It is therefore crucial to avoid any oscillations that would be transmitted to the children seated at various heights, and to the Eternal Father, seated very high up. The moments preceding the float's departure, and those following its arrival, are of great concentration, silence is absolute, the launch occurs at the third blow of the hammer, all the devotee-bearers rise in perfect synchrony and "the magic comes to life"...! The Great Machine travels the "street of float" upon its arrival, there is maximum silence, and at the third blow of the hammer the devotee-bearers lower themselves, placing the incredible Living Float on the ground, renewing before our eyes an event of beauty and absolute wonder, the unique magic of an ancient Sicilian feast tradition.
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Propongo qui, su Flickr, un racconto fotografico, con testo descrittivo, di una festa tradizionale popolare siciliana sempre molto attesa, si svolge nel paese di Fiumedinisi (Messina), negli ultimi 18 anni quella che è chiamata la “Festa Grande” si è celebrata solo 3 volte, sempre la seconda domenica di agosto, è stata celebrata nel 2007, nel 2016, quest’anno 2025, in tutte e tre le edizioni ho realizzato fotografie, quelle che ora presento sono quasi tutte della “Festa Grande” di quest’anno 2025. Il paese di Fiumedinisi è indissolubilmente legato alla sua santa patrona, Maria SS. Annunziata, ogni anno si tiene una tradizionale processione il 24 e 25 marzo, il 24 la processione viene fatta dai fedeli in ginocchio, essi recano una grossa candela accesa con la quale si aiutano nel sostenersi, si svolge lungo un percorso rettilineo in quella che è chiamata “strada vara” (unisce due chiese), il giorno dopo si ha un’altra processione, classica, le due “Sacre Vare”, quella di Maria SS. Annunziata e quella dell’Arcangelo Gabriele, vengono portate in spalla, seguite dai fedeli, nelle stradine del paese; poi la “Festa Grande” di agosto, legata anch’essa all’Annunciazione, che avviene ogni volta dopo molti anni: è la notte di Natale che si annuncia se quello sarà l’anno della Festa Grande, a Natale nasce “il Figlio dell’Uomo” incarnatosi nel ventre materno di Maria, è l’Arcangelo Gabriele che annuncia a Maria il concepimento del Figlio dell’Altissimo, l’iconografia delle Sacre Rappresentazioni lo raffigura inginocchiarsi al cospetto di Lei porgendole un giglio, simbolo della purezza di Maria. La “Festa Grande” di agosto ha origini antiche che risalgono al XVI secolo, periodo della dominazione spagnola in Sicilia, essa inizialmente veniva celebrata il 25 marzo, con la ricorrenza religiosa dell’Annunciazione del Signore, successivamente verso la fine del XIX secolo venne spostata ad agosto, per consentire ai molti emigrati, provenienti da ogni dove, di potervi assistere. In maniera sintetica, la “Festa Grande” prevede una “processione mattutina” con in testa i tre ragazzi che impersoneranno sulla “vara vivente” i tre principali personaggi, la Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele ed il Padre Eterno; verso le ore 11:00 la “Grande Vara Vivente”, pesantissima, portata in spalla farà un primo viaggio lungo la “strada vara” (quella che viene percorsa in ginocchio a marzo, ma anche la vigilia della Festa Grande) con i portatori scalzi, in abiti comuni; il pomeriggio sulla “Grande Vara Vivente” prendono posto su appositi seggiolini tanti bimbi e bimbe, vestiti da angeli, prendono posto i “tre personaggi” (Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele, in alto prende posto il “Padre Eterno”), adesso la Grande Vara farà lo stesso percorso inverso, portata sulle spalle dei devoti-portatori vestiti completamente di bianco, scalzi, così giungendo nella piazza davanti la chiesa-santuario dedicata a Maria SS Annunziata, terminato il percorso e deposta a terra la vara, la cerimonia prevede, e termina, con un antico canto dialettale intonato dai ragazzi, microfonati, che vestono i panni di Maria e dell’Arcangelo Gabriele. Una “curiosità”, questa “Vara Ranni” (dialettalmente, Vara Grande), enorme struttura in metallo e legno, pesantissima, necessita di una perfetta coordinazione tra i portatori, è fondamentale alzarla ed abbassarla in perfetto sincronismo, con sopra tutti i suoi “abitanti”, importantissimo quindi evitare qualsiasi oscillazione che si trasmetterebbe sui bimbi seduti a varie altezze, ed al Padre Eterno, seduto molto in alto: gli attimi che precedono la partenza della vara, e quelli che fanno seguito all’arrivo sono di grande concentrazione, il silenzio è massimo, la partenza avviene al terzo colpo di martello, tutti i devoti-portatori si alzano in perfetta sincronia e “la magia prende vita”…! La Grande Macchina percorre la “strada vara”, al suo arrivo, silenzio massimo, al terzo colpo di martello i devoti-portatori si abbassano deponendo a terra quella incredibile Vara Vivente che rinnova davanti ai nostri occhi un evento fatto di bellezza ed assoluta meraviglia, magia unica di una antica tradizione popolare Siciliana.
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A pronghorn antelope doe and fawn walk in perfect formation.. even their leg angles are identical.
Both are oblivious to the butterfly in front of them (as was I until I saw this on the computer screen).
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Poster:
Locandina:
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/coverlg_home.jpg
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/locandina.jpg
www.cinematografo.it/image-service/version/c:M2QyY2FiZTct...
www.artribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/vangelo-seco...
www.nuovodialogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vangelo-s...
.............................................................................
click to activate the small icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream (it means the monitor);
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
………………………………………………………………………
I propose here, on Flickr, a photographic story, with descriptive text, of a traditional Sicilian popular festival that is always highly anticipated, it takes place in the town of Fiumedinisi (Messina), in the last 18 years what is called the "Great Feast" has been celebrated only 3 times, always on the second Sunday of August, it was celebrated in 2007, in 2016, this year 2025, in all three editions I took photographs, those that I now present are almost all of the "Great Feast" of this year 2025. The town of Fiumedinisi is inextricably linked to her patron saint, Our Lady of the Annunciation, every year a traditional procession is held on March 24th and 25th, on the 24th the procession is made by the faithful on their knees, they carry a large lit candle with which they help themselves to support themselves, it takes place along a straight path in what is called "street of float" (it joins two churches), the next day there is another traditional procession, the two "Sacred Float," that of the Our Lady of the Annunciation and that of the Archangel Gabriel, are carried on the shoulders, followed by the faithful, through the narrow streets of the town. Then comes the "Great Feast" in August, also linked to the Annunciation, which occurs every year after many years. It is on Christmas Eve that it is announced whether that year will be the year of the Great Feast. At Christmas, "the Son of Man" is born, incarnated in Mary's womb. It is the Archangel Gabriel who announces to Mary the conception of the Son of the Most High. The iconography of the Sacred Representations depicts him kneeling before her, offering her a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The "Great Feast" in August has ancient origins dating back to the 16th century, the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. It was initially celebrated on March 25th, the religious feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it was moved to August to allow the many emigrants from all over the world to attend. In short, the "Great Feast" includes a "morning procession" led by three young men who will impersonate the three main characters on the "living float"—the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the Eternal Father. Around 11:00 a.m., the "Great Living Float," a very heavy object carried on shoulders, will make its first journey along the "street of float" (the one traveled on one's knees in March, but also on the eve of the Great Feast) with the barefoot bearers in ordinary clothing. In the afternoon, many boys and girls dressed as angels take their places on special seats on the "Great Living Float", the "three characters" (the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the "Eternal Father" at the top) take their places. Now the Great Float will make the same journey in reverse, carried on the shoulders of devotee-bearers dressed entirely in white, barefoot, thus arriving in the square in front of the church-sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS Annunziata. Once the journey has finished and the Float has been placed on the ground, the ceremony includes, and ends, with an ancient dialect song sung by the children, with microphones, who dress up as Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. A curiosity, this "Great Float", an enormous metal and wood structure, extremely heavy, requires perfect coordination between the bearers. It is essential to raise and lower it in perfect synchrony, with all its "inhabitants" atop it. It is therefore crucial to avoid any oscillations that would be transmitted to the children seated at various heights, and to the Eternal Father, seated very high up. The moments preceding the float's departure, and those following its arrival, are of great concentration, silence is absolute, the launch occurs at the third blow of the hammer, all the devotee-bearers rise in perfect synchrony and "the magic comes to life"...! The Great Machine travels the "street of float" upon its arrival, there is maximum silence, and at the third blow of the hammer the devotee-bearers lower themselves, placing the incredible Living Float on the ground, renewing before our eyes an event of beauty and absolute wonder, the unique magic of an ancient Sicilian feast tradition.
…………………………………
Propongo qui, su Flickr, un racconto fotografico, con testo descrittivo, di una festa tradizionale popolare siciliana sempre molto attesa, si svolge nel paese di Fiumedinisi (Messina), negli ultimi 18 anni quella che è chiamata la “Festa Grande” si è celebrata solo 3 volte, sempre la seconda domenica di agosto, è stata celebrata nel 2007, nel 2016, quest’anno 2025, in tutte e tre le edizioni ho realizzato fotografie, quelle che ora presento sono quasi tutte della “Festa Grande” di quest’anno 2025. Il paese di Fiumedinisi è indissolubilmente legato alla sua santa patrona, Maria SS. Annunziata, ogni anno si tiene una tradizionale processione il 24 e 25 marzo, il 24 la processione viene fatta dai fedeli in ginocchio, essi recano una grossa candela accesa con la quale si aiutano nel sostenersi, si svolge lungo un percorso rettilineo in quella che è chiamata “strada vara” (unisce due chiese), il giorno dopo si ha un’altra processione, classica, le due “Sacre Vare”, quella di Maria SS. Annunziata e quella dell’Arcangelo Gabriele, vengono portate in spalla, seguite dai fedeli, nelle stradine del paese; poi la “Festa Grande” di agosto, legata anch’essa all’Annunciazione, che avviene ogni volta dopo molti anni: è la notte di Natale che si annuncia se quello sarà l’anno della Festa Grande, a Natale nasce “il Figlio dell’Uomo” incarnatosi nel ventre materno di Maria, è l’Arcangelo Gabriele che annuncia a Maria il concepimento del Figlio dell’Altissimo, l’iconografia delle Sacre Rappresentazioni lo raffigura inginocchiarsi al cospetto di Lei porgendole un giglio, simbolo della purezza di Maria. La “Festa Grande” di agosto ha origini antiche che risalgono al XVI secolo, periodo della dominazione spagnola in Sicilia, essa inizialmente veniva celebrata il 25 marzo, con la ricorrenza religiosa dell’Annunciazione del Signore, successivamente verso la fine del XIX secolo venne spostata ad agosto, per consentire ai molti emigrati, provenienti da ogni dove, di potervi assistere. In maniera sintetica, la “Festa Grande” prevede una “processione mattutina” con in testa i tre ragazzi che impersoneranno sulla “vara vivente” i tre principali personaggi, la Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele ed il Padre Eterno; verso le ore 11:00 la “Grande Vara Vivente”, pesantissima, portata in spalla farà un primo viaggio lungo la “strada vara” (quella che viene percorsa in ginocchio a marzo, ma anche la vigilia della Festa Grande) con i portatori scalzi, in abiti comuni; il pomeriggio sulla “Grande Vara Vivente” prendono posto su appositi seggiolini tanti bimbi e bimbe, vestiti da angeli, prendono posto i “tre personaggi” (Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele, in alto prende posto il “Padre Eterno”), adesso la Grande Vara farà lo stesso percorso inverso, portata sulle spalle dei devoti-portatori vestiti completamente di bianco, scalzi, così giungendo nella piazza davanti la chiesa-santuario dedicata a Maria SS Annunziata, terminato il percorso e deposta a terra la vara, la cerimonia prevede, e termina, con un antico canto dialettale intonato dai ragazzi, microfonati, che vestono i panni di Maria e dell’Arcangelo Gabriele. Una “curiosità”, questa “Vara Ranni” (dialettalmente, Vara Grande), enorme struttura in metallo e legno, pesantissima, necessita di una perfetta coordinazione tra i portatori, è fondamentale alzarla ed abbassarla in perfetto sincronismo, con sopra tutti i suoi “abitanti”, importantissimo quindi evitare qualsiasi oscillazione che si trasmetterebbe sui bimbi seduti a varie altezze, ed al Padre Eterno, seduto molto in alto: gli attimi che precedono la partenza della vara, e quelli che fanno seguito all’arrivo sono di grande concentrazione, il silenzio è massimo, la partenza avviene al terzo colpo di martello, tutti i devoti-portatori si alzano in perfetta sincronia e “la magia prende vita”…! La Grande Macchina percorre la “strada vara”, al suo arrivo, silenzio massimo, al terzo colpo di martello i devoti-portatori si abbassano deponendo a terra quella incredibile Vara Vivente che rinnova davanti ai nostri occhi un evento fatto di bellezza ed assoluta meraviglia, magia unica di una antica tradizione popolare Siciliana.
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Dopo 9 anni torna l’emozionante Festa della Vara a Fiumedinisi
FIUMEDINISI (ME) - Festa della Vara edizione 2025
I momenti emozionanti della Vara di Fiumedinisi in processione con tanti angioletti
Fiumedinisi ( ME ) - Festa della Vara - I Viaggi - 09 /08 / 2025
Fiumedinisi ( ME ) - Festa della Vara - 10 / 08 /2025
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VANGELO SECONDO MARIA (2024) Trailer | Benedetta Porcaroli, Alessandro Gassmann
Benedetta Porcaroli e Alessandro Gassmann sul film | Vangelo Secondo Maria
Vangelo secondo Maria, incontro stampa con Alessandro Gassmann, Benedetta Porcaroli, Barbara Alberti
Vangelo secondo Maria, di Paolo Zucca - Clip 2
Vangelo secondo Maria - Prima Clip Ufficiale
Effetto Notte (TV2000) - “Il Vangelo secondo Maria”, Alessandro Gassmann e Benedetta Porcaroli
Vangelo secondo Maria, Barbara Alberti: più che scomodare la Madonna, l'ho fatta sorridere
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Great Tit - Parus Major
The great tit (Parus major) is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common species throughout Europe, the Middle East, Central and Northern Asia, and parts of North Africa where it is generally resident in any sort of woodland; most great tits do not migrate except in extremely harsh winters. Until 2005 this species was lumped with numerous other subspecies. DNA studies have shown these other subspecies to be distinctive from the great tit and these have now been separated as two distinct species, the cinereous tit of southern Asia, and the Japanese tit of East Asia. The great tit remains the most widespread species in the genus Parus.
The great tit has a wide distribution across much of Eurasia. It is found across all of Europe except for Iceland and northern Scandinavia, including numerous Mediterranean islands. In North Africa it is found in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. It also occurs across the Middle East, and parts of central Asia from northern Iran and Afghanistan to Mongolia, as well as across northern Asia from the Urals as far east as northern China and the Amur Valley.
The great tit is generally not migratory. Pairs will usually remain near or in their territory year round, even in northern parts of their range. Young birds will disperse from their parents' territory, but usually not far. Populations may become irruptive in poor or harsh winters, meaning that groups of up to a thousand birds may unpredictably move from northern Europe to the Baltic, the Netherlands, Britain and even as far as the southern Balkans.
The great tit is generally not migratory. Pairs will usually remain near or in their territory year round, even in northern parts of their range. Young birds will disperse from their parents' territory, but usually not far. Populations may become irruptive in poor or harsh winters, meaning that groups of up to a thousand birds may unpredictably move from northern Europe to the Baltic, the Netherlands, Britain and even as far as the southern Balkans.
The Eurasian sparrowhawk is a predator of great tits, with the young from second broods being at higher risk partly because of the hawk's greater need for food for its own developing young. The nests of great tits are raided by great spotted woodpeckers, particularly when nesting in certain types of nest boxes. Other nest predators include introduced grey squirrels (in Britain) and least weasels, which are able to take nesting adults as well.
Great tits compete with pied flycatchers for nesting boxes, and can kill prospecting flycatcher males. Incidences of fatal competition are more frequent when nesting times overlap, and climate change has led to greater synchrony of nesting between the two species and flycatcher deaths. Having killed the flycatchers, the great tits may consume their brains.
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Poster:
Locandina:
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/coverlg_home.jpg
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/locandina.jpg
www.cinematografo.it/image-service/version/c:M2QyY2FiZTct...
www.artribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/vangelo-seco...
www.nuovodialogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vangelo-s...
.............................................................................
click to activate the small icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream (it means the monitor);
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
………………………………………………………………………
I propose here, on Flickr, a photographic story, with descriptive text, of a traditional Sicilian popular festival that is always highly anticipated, it takes place in the town of Fiumedinisi (Messina), in the last 18 years what is called the "Great Feast" has been celebrated only 3 times, always on the second Sunday of August, it was celebrated in 2007, in 2016, this year 2025, in all three editions I took photographs, those that I now present are almost all of the "Great Feast" of this year 2025. The town of Fiumedinisi is inextricably linked to her patron saint, Our Lady of the Annunciation, every year a traditional procession is held on March 24th and 25th, on the 24th the procession is made by the faithful on their knees, they carry a large lit candle with which they help themselves to support themselves, it takes place along a straight path in what is called "street of float" (it joins two churches), the next day there is another traditional procession, the two "Sacred Float," that of the Our Lady of the Annunciation and that of the Archangel Gabriel, are carried on the shoulders, followed by the faithful, through the narrow streets of the town. Then comes the "Great Feast" in August, also linked to the Annunciation, which occurs every year after many years. It is on Christmas Eve that it is announced whether that year will be the year of the Great Feast. At Christmas, "the Son of Man" is born, incarnated in Mary's womb. It is the Archangel Gabriel who announces to Mary the conception of the Son of the Most High. The iconography of the Sacred Representations depicts him kneeling before her, offering her a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The "Great Feast" in August has ancient origins dating back to the 16th century, the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. It was initially celebrated on March 25th, the religious feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it was moved to August to allow the many emigrants from all over the world to attend. In short, the "Great Feast" includes a "morning procession" led by three young men who will impersonate the three main characters on the "living float"—the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the Eternal Father. Around 11:00 a.m., the "Great Living Float," a very heavy object carried on shoulders, will make its first journey along the "street of float" (the one traveled on one's knees in March, but also on the eve of the Great Feast) with the barefoot bearers in ordinary clothing. In the afternoon, many boys and girls dressed as angels take their places on special seats on the "Great Living Float", the "three characters" (the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the "Eternal Father" at the top) take their places. Now the Great Float will make the same journey in reverse, carried on the shoulders of devotee-bearers dressed entirely in white, barefoot, thus arriving in the square in front of the church-sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS Annunziata. Once the journey has finished and the Float has been placed on the ground, the ceremony includes, and ends, with an ancient dialect song sung by the children, with microphones, who dress up as Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. A curiosity, this "Great Float", an enormous metal and wood structure, extremely heavy, requires perfect coordination between the bearers. It is essential to raise and lower it in perfect synchrony, with all its "inhabitants" atop it. It is therefore crucial to avoid any oscillations that would be transmitted to the children seated at various heights, and to the Eternal Father, seated very high up. The moments preceding the float's departure, and those following its arrival, are of great concentration, silence is absolute, the launch occurs at the third blow of the hammer, all the devotee-bearers rise in perfect synchrony and "the magic comes to life"...! The Great Machine travels the "street of float" upon its arrival, there is maximum silence, and at the third blow of the hammer the devotee-bearers lower themselves, placing the incredible Living Float on the ground, renewing before our eyes an event of beauty and absolute wonder, the unique magic of an ancient Sicilian feast tradition.
…………………………………
Propongo qui, su Flickr, un racconto fotografico, con testo descrittivo, di una festa tradizionale popolare siciliana sempre molto attesa, si svolge nel paese di Fiumedinisi (Messina), negli ultimi 18 anni quella che è chiamata la “Festa Grande” si è celebrata solo 3 volte, sempre la seconda domenica di agosto, è stata celebrata nel 2007, nel 2016, quest’anno 2025, in tutte e tre le edizioni ho realizzato fotografie, quelle che ora presento sono quasi tutte della “Festa Grande” di quest’anno 2025. Il paese di Fiumedinisi è indissolubilmente legato alla sua santa patrona, Maria SS. Annunziata, ogni anno si tiene una tradizionale processione il 24 e 25 marzo, il 24 la processione viene fatta dai fedeli in ginocchio, essi recano una grossa candela accesa con la quale si aiutano nel sostenersi, si svolge lungo un percorso rettilineo in quella che è chiamata “strada vara” (unisce due chiese), il giorno dopo si ha un’altra processione, classica, le due “Sacre Vare”, quella di Maria SS. Annunziata e quella dell’Arcangelo Gabriele, vengono portate in spalla, seguite dai fedeli, nelle stradine del paese; poi la “Festa Grande” di agosto, legata anch’essa all’Annunciazione, che avviene ogni volta dopo molti anni: è la notte di Natale che si annuncia se quello sarà l’anno della Festa Grande, a Natale nasce “il Figlio dell’Uomo” incarnatosi nel ventre materno di Maria, è l’Arcangelo Gabriele che annuncia a Maria il concepimento del Figlio dell’Altissimo, l’iconografia delle Sacre Rappresentazioni lo raffigura inginocchiarsi al cospetto di Lei porgendole un giglio, simbolo della purezza di Maria. La “Festa Grande” di agosto ha origini antiche che risalgono al XVI secolo, periodo della dominazione spagnola in Sicilia, essa inizialmente veniva celebrata il 25 marzo, con la ricorrenza religiosa dell’Annunciazione del Signore, successivamente verso la fine del XIX secolo venne spostata ad agosto, per consentire ai molti emigrati, provenienti da ogni dove, di potervi assistere. In maniera sintetica, la “Festa Grande” prevede una “processione mattutina” con in testa i tre ragazzi che impersoneranno sulla “vara vivente” i tre principali personaggi, la Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele ed il Padre Eterno; verso le ore 11:00 la “Grande Vara Vivente”, pesantissima, portata in spalla farà un primo viaggio lungo la “strada vara” (quella che viene percorsa in ginocchio a marzo, ma anche la vigilia della Festa Grande) con i portatori scalzi, in abiti comuni; il pomeriggio sulla “Grande Vara Vivente” prendono posto su appositi seggiolini tanti bimbi e bimbe, vestiti da angeli, prendono posto i “tre personaggi” (Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele, in alto prende posto il “Padre Eterno”), adesso la Grande Vara farà lo stesso percorso inverso, portata sulle spalle dei devoti-portatori vestiti completamente di bianco, scalzi, così giungendo nella piazza davanti la chiesa-santuario dedicata a Maria SS Annunziata, terminato il percorso e deposta a terra la vara, la cerimonia prevede, e termina, con un antico canto dialettale intonato dai ragazzi, microfonati, che vestono i panni di Maria e dell’Arcangelo Gabriele. Una “curiosità”, questa “Vara Ranni” (dialettalmente, Vara Grande), enorme struttura in metallo e legno, pesantissima, necessita di una perfetta coordinazione tra i portatori, è fondamentale alzarla ed abbassarla in perfetto sincronismo, con sopra tutti i suoi “abitanti”, importantissimo quindi evitare qualsiasi oscillazione che si trasmetterebbe sui bimbi seduti a varie altezze, ed al Padre Eterno, seduto molto in alto: gli attimi che precedono la partenza della vara, e quelli che fanno seguito all’arrivo sono di grande concentrazione, il silenzio è massimo, la partenza avviene al terzo colpo di martello, tutti i devoti-portatori si alzano in perfetta sincronia e “la magia prende vita”…! La Grande Macchina percorre la “strada vara”, al suo arrivo, silenzio massimo, al terzo colpo di martello i devoti-portatori si abbassano deponendo a terra quella incredibile Vara Vivente che rinnova davanti ai nostri occhi un evento fatto di bellezza ed assoluta meraviglia, magia unica di una antica tradizione popolare Siciliana.
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Great Tit - Parus Major
The great tit (Parus major) is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common species throughout Europe, the Middle East, Central and Northern Asia, and parts of North Africa where it is generally resident in any sort of woodland; most great tits do not migrate except in extremely harsh winters. Until 2005 this species was lumped with numerous other subspecies. DNA studies have shown these other subspecies to be distinctive from the great tit and these have now been separated as two distinct species, the cinereous tit of southern Asia, and the Japanese tit of East Asia. The great tit remains the most widespread species in the genus Parus.
The great tit has a wide distribution across much of Eurasia. It is found across all of Europe except for Iceland and northern Scandinavia, including numerous Mediterranean islands. In North Africa it is found in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. It also occurs across the Middle East, and parts of central Asia from northern Iran and Afghanistan to Mongolia, as well as across northern Asia from the Urals as far east as northern China and the Amur Valley.
The great tit is generally not migratory. Pairs will usually remain near or in their territory year round, even in northern parts of their range. Young birds will disperse from their parents' territory, but usually not far. Populations may become irruptive in poor or harsh winters, meaning that groups of up to a thousand birds may unpredictably move from northern Europe to the Baltic, the Netherlands, Britain and even as far as the southern Balkans.
The great tit is generally not migratory. Pairs will usually remain near or in their territory year round, even in northern parts of their range. Young birds will disperse from their parents' territory, but usually not far. Populations may become irruptive in poor or harsh winters, meaning that groups of up to a thousand birds may unpredictably move from northern Europe to the Baltic, the Netherlands, Britain and even as far as the southern Balkans.
The Eurasian sparrowhawk is a predator of great tits, with the young from second broods being at higher risk partly because of the hawk's greater need for food for its own developing young. The nests of great tits are raided by great spotted woodpeckers, particularly when nesting in certain types of nest boxes. Other nest predators include introduced grey squirrels (in Britain) and least weasels, which are able to take nesting adults as well.
Great tits compete with pied flycatchers for nesting boxes, and can kill prospecting flycatcher males. Incidences of fatal competition are more frequent when nesting times overlap, and climate change has led to greater synchrony of nesting between the two species and flycatcher deaths. Having killed the flycatchers, the great tits may consume their brains.
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Poster:
Locandina:
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/coverlg_home.jpg
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/locandina.jpg
www.cinematografo.it/image-service/version/c:M2QyY2FiZTct...
www.artribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/vangelo-seco...
www.nuovodialogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vangelo-s...
.............................................................................
click to activate the small icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream (it means the monitor);
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
………………………………………………………………………
I propose here, on Flickr, a photographic story, with descriptive text, of a traditional Sicilian popular festival that is always highly anticipated, it takes place in the town of Fiumedinisi (Messina), in the last 18 years what is called the "Great Feast" has been celebrated only 3 times, always on the second Sunday of August, it was celebrated in 2007, in 2016, this year 2025, in all three editions I took photographs, those that I now present are almost all of the "Great Feast" of this year 2025. The town of Fiumedinisi is inextricably linked to her patron saint, Our Lady of the Annunciation, every year a traditional procession is held on March 24th and 25th, on the 24th the procession is made by the faithful on their knees, they carry a large lit candle with which they help themselves to support themselves, it takes place along a straight path in what is called "street of float" (it joins two churches), the next day there is another traditional procession, the two "Sacred Float," that of the Our Lady of the Annunciation and that of the Archangel Gabriel, are carried on the shoulders, followed by the faithful, through the narrow streets of the town. Then comes the "Great Feast" in August, also linked to the Annunciation, which occurs every year after many years. It is on Christmas Eve that it is announced whether that year will be the year of the Great Feast. At Christmas, "the Son of Man" is born, incarnated in Mary's womb. It is the Archangel Gabriel who announces to Mary the conception of the Son of the Most High. The iconography of the Sacred Representations depicts him kneeling before her, offering her a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The "Great Feast" in August has ancient origins dating back to the 16th century, the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. It was initially celebrated on March 25th, the religious feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it was moved to August to allow the many emigrants from all over the world to attend. In short, the "Great Feast" includes a "morning procession" led by three young men who will impersonate the three main characters on the "living float"—the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the Eternal Father. Around 11:00 a.m., the "Great Living Float," a very heavy object carried on shoulders, will make its first journey along the "street of float" (the one traveled on one's knees in March, but also on the eve of the Great Feast) with the barefoot bearers in ordinary clothing. In the afternoon, many boys and girls dressed as angels take their places on special seats on the "Great Living Float", the "three characters" (the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the "Eternal Father" at the top) take their places. Now the Great Float will make the same journey in reverse, carried on the shoulders of devotee-bearers dressed entirely in white, barefoot, thus arriving in the square in front of the church-sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS Annunziata. Once the journey has finished and the Float has been placed on the ground, the ceremony includes, and ends, with an ancient dialect song sung by the children, with microphones, who dress up as Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. A curiosity, this "Great Float", an enormous metal and wood structure, extremely heavy, requires perfect coordination between the bearers. It is essential to raise and lower it in perfect synchrony, with all its "inhabitants" atop it. It is therefore crucial to avoid any oscillations that would be transmitted to the children seated at various heights, and to the Eternal Father, seated very high up. The moments preceding the float's departure, and those following its arrival, are of great concentration, silence is absolute, the launch occurs at the third blow of the hammer, all the devotee-bearers rise in perfect synchrony and "the magic comes to life"...! The Great Machine travels the "street of float" upon its arrival, there is maximum silence, and at the third blow of the hammer the devotee-bearers lower themselves, placing the incredible Living Float on the ground, renewing before our eyes an event of beauty and absolute wonder, the unique magic of an ancient Sicilian feast tradition.
…………………………………
Propongo qui, su Flickr, un racconto fotografico, con testo descrittivo, di una festa tradizionale popolare siciliana sempre molto attesa, si svolge nel paese di Fiumedinisi (Messina), negli ultimi 18 anni quella che è chiamata la “Festa Grande” si è celebrata solo 3 volte, sempre la seconda domenica di agosto, è stata celebrata nel 2007, nel 2016, quest’anno 2025, in tutte e tre le edizioni ho realizzato fotografie, quelle che ora presento sono quasi tutte della “Festa Grande” di quest’anno 2025. Il paese di Fiumedinisi è indissolubilmente legato alla sua santa patrona, Maria SS. Annunziata, ogni anno si tiene una tradizionale processione il 24 e 25 marzo, il 24 la processione viene fatta dai fedeli in ginocchio, essi recano una grossa candela accesa con la quale si aiutano nel sostenersi, si svolge lungo un percorso rettilineo in quella che è chiamata “strada vara” (unisce due chiese), il giorno dopo si ha un’altra processione, classica, le due “Sacre Vare”, quella di Maria SS. Annunziata e quella dell’Arcangelo Gabriele, vengono portate in spalla, seguite dai fedeli, nelle stradine del paese; poi la “Festa Grande” di agosto, legata anch’essa all’Annunciazione, che avviene ogni volta dopo molti anni: è la notte di Natale che si annuncia se quello sarà l’anno della Festa Grande, a Natale nasce “il Figlio dell’Uomo” incarnatosi nel ventre materno di Maria, è l’Arcangelo Gabriele che annuncia a Maria il concepimento del Figlio dell’Altissimo, l’iconografia delle Sacre Rappresentazioni lo raffigura inginocchiarsi al cospetto di Lei porgendole un giglio, simbolo della purezza di Maria. La “Festa Grande” di agosto ha origini antiche che risalgono al XVI secolo, periodo della dominazione spagnola in Sicilia, essa inizialmente veniva celebrata il 25 marzo, con la ricorrenza religiosa dell’Annunciazione del Signore, successivamente verso la fine del XIX secolo venne spostata ad agosto, per consentire ai molti emigrati, provenienti da ogni dove, di potervi assistere. In maniera sintetica, la “Festa Grande” prevede una “processione mattutina” con in testa i tre ragazzi che impersoneranno sulla “vara vivente” i tre principali personaggi, la Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele ed il Padre Eterno; verso le ore 11:00 la “Grande Vara Vivente”, pesantissima, portata in spalla farà un primo viaggio lungo la “strada vara” (quella che viene percorsa in ginocchio a marzo, ma anche la vigilia della Festa Grande) con i portatori scalzi, in abiti comuni; il pomeriggio sulla “Grande Vara Vivente” prendono posto su appositi seggiolini tanti bimbi e bimbe, vestiti da angeli, prendono posto i “tre personaggi” (Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele, in alto prende posto il “Padre Eterno”), adesso la Grande Vara farà lo stesso percorso inverso, portata sulle spalle dei devoti-portatori vestiti completamente di bianco, scalzi, così giungendo nella piazza davanti la chiesa-santuario dedicata a Maria SS Annunziata, terminato il percorso e deposta a terra la vara, la cerimonia prevede, e termina, con un antico canto dialettale intonato dai ragazzi, microfonati, che vestono i panni di Maria e dell’Arcangelo Gabriele. Una “curiosità”, questa “Vara Ranni” (dialettalmente, Vara Grande), enorme struttura in metallo e legno, pesantissima, necessita di una perfetta coordinazione tra i portatori, è fondamentale alzarla ed abbassarla in perfetto sincronismo, con sopra tutti i suoi “abitanti”, importantissimo quindi evitare qualsiasi oscillazione che si trasmetterebbe sui bimbi seduti a varie altezze, ed al Padre Eterno, seduto molto in alto: gli attimi che precedono la partenza della vara, e quelli che fanno seguito all’arrivo sono di grande concentrazione, il silenzio è massimo, la partenza avviene al terzo colpo di martello, tutti i devoti-portatori si alzano in perfetta sincronia e “la magia prende vita”…! La Grande Macchina percorre la “strada vara”, al suo arrivo, silenzio massimo, al terzo colpo di martello i devoti-portatori si abbassano deponendo a terra quella incredibile Vara Vivente che rinnova davanti ai nostri occhi un evento fatto di bellezza ed assoluta meraviglia, magia unica di una antica tradizione popolare Siciliana.
.....................
……………………………….
Poster:
Locandina:
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/coverlg_home.jpg
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/locandina.jpg
www.cinematografo.it/image-service/version/c:M2QyY2FiZTct...
www.artribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/vangelo-seco...
www.nuovodialogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vangelo-s...
.............................................................................
click to activate the small icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream (it means the monitor);
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
………………………………………………………………………
I propose here, on Flickr, a photographic story, with descriptive text, of a traditional Sicilian popular festival that is always highly anticipated, it takes place in the town of Fiumedinisi (Messina), in the last 18 years what is called the "Great Feast" has been celebrated only 3 times, always on the second Sunday of August, it was celebrated in 2007, in 2016, this year 2025, in all three editions I took photographs, those that I now present are almost all of the "Great Feast" of this year 2025. The town of Fiumedinisi is inextricably linked to her patron saint, Our Lady of the Annunciation, every year a traditional procession is held on March 24th and 25th, on the 24th the procession is made by the faithful on their knees, they carry a large lit candle with which they help themselves to support themselves, it takes place along a straight path in what is called "street of float" (it joins two churches), the next day there is another traditional procession, the two "Sacred Float," that of the Our Lady of the Annunciation and that of the Archangel Gabriel, are carried on the shoulders, followed by the faithful, through the narrow streets of the town. Then comes the "Great Feast" in August, also linked to the Annunciation, which occurs every year after many years. It is on Christmas Eve that it is announced whether that year will be the year of the Great Feast. At Christmas, "the Son of Man" is born, incarnated in Mary's womb. It is the Archangel Gabriel who announces to Mary the conception of the Son of the Most High. The iconography of the Sacred Representations depicts him kneeling before her, offering her a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The "Great Feast" in August has ancient origins dating back to the 16th century, the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. It was initially celebrated on March 25th, the religious feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it was moved to August to allow the many emigrants from all over the world to attend. In short, the "Great Feast" includes a "morning procession" led by three young men who will impersonate the three main characters on the "living float"—the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the Eternal Father. Around 11:00 a.m., the "Great Living Float," a very heavy object carried on shoulders, will make its first journey along the "street of float" (the one traveled on one's knees in March, but also on the eve of the Great Feast) with the barefoot bearers in ordinary clothing. In the afternoon, many boys and girls dressed as angels take their places on special seats on the "Great Living Float", the "three characters" (the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the "Eternal Father" at the top) take their places. Now the Great Float will make the same journey in reverse, carried on the shoulders of devotee-bearers dressed entirely in white, barefoot, thus arriving in the square in front of the church-sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS Annunziata. Once the journey has finished and the Float has been placed on the ground, the ceremony includes, and ends, with an ancient dialect song sung by the children, with microphones, who dress up as Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. A curiosity, this "Great Float", an enormous metal and wood structure, extremely heavy, requires perfect coordination between the bearers. It is essential to raise and lower it in perfect synchrony, with all its "inhabitants" atop it. It is therefore crucial to avoid any oscillations that would be transmitted to the children seated at various heights, and to the Eternal Father, seated very high up. The moments preceding the float's departure, and those following its arrival, are of great concentration, silence is absolute, the launch occurs at the third blow of the hammer, all the devotee-bearers rise in perfect synchrony and "the magic comes to life"...! The Great Machine travels the "street of float" upon its arrival, there is maximum silence, and at the third blow of the hammer the devotee-bearers lower themselves, placing the incredible Living Float on the ground, renewing before our eyes an event of beauty and absolute wonder, the unique magic of an ancient Sicilian feast tradition.
…………………………………
Propongo qui, su Flickr, un racconto fotografico, con testo descrittivo, di una festa tradizionale popolare siciliana sempre molto attesa, si svolge nel paese di Fiumedinisi (Messina), negli ultimi 18 anni quella che è chiamata la “Festa Grande” si è celebrata solo 3 volte, sempre la seconda domenica di agosto, è stata celebrata nel 2007, nel 2016, quest’anno 2025, in tutte e tre le edizioni ho realizzato fotografie, quelle che ora presento sono quasi tutte della “Festa Grande” di quest’anno 2025. Il paese di Fiumedinisi è indissolubilmente legato alla sua santa patrona, Maria SS. Annunziata, ogni anno si tiene una tradizionale processione il 24 e 25 marzo, il 24 la processione viene fatta dai fedeli in ginocchio, essi recano una grossa candela accesa con la quale si aiutano nel sostenersi, si svolge lungo un percorso rettilineo in quella che è chiamata “strada vara” (unisce due chiese), il giorno dopo si ha un’altra processione, classica, le due “Sacre Vare”, quella di Maria SS. Annunziata e quella dell’Arcangelo Gabriele, vengono portate in spalla, seguite dai fedeli, nelle stradine del paese; poi la “Festa Grande” di agosto, legata anch’essa all’Annunciazione, che avviene ogni volta dopo molti anni: è la notte di Natale che si annuncia se quello sarà l’anno della Festa Grande, a Natale nasce “il Figlio dell’Uomo” incarnatosi nel ventre materno di Maria, è l’Arcangelo Gabriele che annuncia a Maria il concepimento del Figlio dell’Altissimo, l’iconografia delle Sacre Rappresentazioni lo raffigura inginocchiarsi al cospetto di Lei porgendole un giglio, simbolo della purezza di Maria. La “Festa Grande” di agosto ha origini antiche che risalgono al XVI secolo, periodo della dominazione spagnola in Sicilia, essa inizialmente veniva celebrata il 25 marzo, con la ricorrenza religiosa dell’Annunciazione del Signore, successivamente verso la fine del XIX secolo venne spostata ad agosto, per consentire ai molti emigrati, provenienti da ogni dove, di potervi assistere. In maniera sintetica, la “Festa Grande” prevede una “processione mattutina” con in testa i tre ragazzi che impersoneranno sulla “vara vivente” i tre principali personaggi, la Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele ed il Padre Eterno; verso le ore 11:00 la “Grande Vara Vivente”, pesantissima, portata in spalla farà un primo viaggio lungo la “strada vara” (quella che viene percorsa in ginocchio a marzo, ma anche la vigilia della Festa Grande) con i portatori scalzi, in abiti comuni; il pomeriggio sulla “Grande Vara Vivente” prendono posto su appositi seggiolini tanti bimbi e bimbe, vestiti da angeli, prendono posto i “tre personaggi” (Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele, in alto prende posto il “Padre Eterno”), adesso la Grande Vara farà lo stesso percorso inverso, portata sulle spalle dei devoti-portatori vestiti completamente di bianco, scalzi, così giungendo nella piazza davanti la chiesa-santuario dedicata a Maria SS Annunziata, terminato il percorso e deposta a terra la vara, la cerimonia prevede, e termina, con un antico canto dialettale intonato dai ragazzi, microfonati, che vestono i panni di Maria e dell’Arcangelo Gabriele. Una “curiosità”, questa “Vara Ranni” (dialettalmente, Vara Grande), enorme struttura in metallo e legno, pesantissima, necessita di una perfetta coordinazione tra i portatori, è fondamentale alzarla ed abbassarla in perfetto sincronismo, con sopra tutti i suoi “abitanti”, importantissimo quindi evitare qualsiasi oscillazione che si trasmetterebbe sui bimbi seduti a varie altezze, ed al Padre Eterno, seduto molto in alto: gli attimi che precedono la partenza della vara, e quelli che fanno seguito all’arrivo sono di grande concentrazione, il silenzio è massimo, la partenza avviene al terzo colpo di martello, tutti i devoti-portatori si alzano in perfetta sincronia e “la magia prende vita”…! La Grande Macchina percorre la “strada vara”, al suo arrivo, silenzio massimo, al terzo colpo di martello i devoti-portatori si abbassano deponendo a terra quella incredibile Vara Vivente che rinnova davanti ai nostri occhi un evento fatto di bellezza ed assoluta meraviglia, magia unica di una antica tradizione popolare Siciliana.
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Great Tit - Parus Major
The great tit (Parus major) is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common species throughout Europe, the Middle East, Central and Northern Asia, and parts of North Africa where it is generally resident in any sort of woodland; most great tits do not migrate except in extremely harsh winters. Until 2005 this species was lumped with numerous other subspecies. DNA studies have shown these other subspecies to be distinctive from the great tit and these have now been separated as two distinct species, the cinereous tit of southern Asia, and the Japanese tit of East Asia. The great tit remains the most widespread species in the genus Parus.
The great tit has a wide distribution across much of Eurasia. It is found across all of Europe except for Iceland and northern Scandinavia, including numerous Mediterranean islands. In North Africa it is found in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. It also occurs across the Middle East, and parts of central Asia from northern Iran and Afghanistan to Mongolia, as well as across northern Asia from the Urals as far east as northern China and the Amur Valley.
The great tit is generally not migratory. Pairs will usually remain near or in their territory year round, even in northern parts of their range. Young birds will disperse from their parents' territory, but usually not far. Populations may become irruptive in poor or harsh winters, meaning that groups of up to a thousand birds may unpredictably move from northern Europe to the Baltic, the Netherlands, Britain and even as far as the southern Balkans.
The great tit is generally not migratory. Pairs will usually remain near or in their territory year round, even in northern parts of their range. Young birds will disperse from their parents' territory, but usually not far. Populations may become irruptive in poor or harsh winters, meaning that groups of up to a thousand birds may unpredictably move from northern Europe to the Baltic, the Netherlands, Britain and even as far as the southern Balkans.
The Eurasian sparrowhawk is a predator of great tits, with the young from second broods being at higher risk partly because of the hawk's greater need for food for its own developing young. The nests of great tits are raided by great spotted woodpeckers, particularly when nesting in certain types of nest boxes. Other nest predators include introduced grey squirrels (in Britain) and least weasels, which are able to take nesting adults as well.
Great tits compete with pied flycatchers for nesting boxes, and can kill prospecting flycatcher males. Incidences of fatal competition are more frequent when nesting times overlap, and climate change has led to greater synchrony of nesting between the two species and flycatcher deaths. Having killed the flycatchers, the great tits may consume their brains.
Yucca moth
Rocky Oaks Park
I was quite excited to find one of these moths as I've been looking for one for some time. They are pretty unique in their behavior.
The following info is taken from the USDA website narrative on these moths:
One of the most extraordinary partnerships between an insect and the plant that it pollinates is that of the yucca and the yucca moth. They are so interdependent that one cannot live without the other. Actually, there are a number of species of yucca, each with its corresponding partner, a species of Tegeticula or Parategeticula moth.
The yucca moth is a non-descript, small, whitish moth that blends well with the color of the yucca blossoms where it spends most of its brief adult life. A very distinctive feature of Tegeticula is the absence of the long tongue, characteristic of most moths and butterflies. Instead, it has tentacles around its mouth that serve a very important function and make possible its job as a pollinator.
The adult yucca moth does not need to feed because it is so short lived. However, the female gathers pollen, which it holds under its chin with the help of the tentacles. Males and females emerge from their cocoons in the spring in synchrony with the blossoming of the species of yucca with which they are partners. They meet and mate on the yucca blossoms and then the job of the females starts.
She visits the anthers of the flower and scrapes the pollen from several of them shaping it into a large lump. Then she leaves in search of another inflorescence, not just another flower in the same bunch but in a different plant altogether, assuring in this manner the cross pollination of the yucca.
When she arrives at a new plant, she inspects the flowers and chooses the ones that are at the right stage. She also checks if there are already eggs laid in the flower’s ovary. She can detect the smell of other female moths with her antennae and, if another one has been there already, she searches for another flower. This is good for the plant and for the future babies because, if too many eggs were laid in one flower ovary, the flower would abort and the larvae would starve. She lays her eggs in the ovary, no more than a handful; once again, if she laid too many eggs, the flower would abort.
Afterwards she goes to the stigma of the flower and carefully removes some pollen from under her chin and deposits it on the stigma. Now the flower will produce a fruit and enough seeds to feed the larvae as well as ensure the reproduction of the plant.
In a few weeks, the larva is fully-grown. It drops to the ground; it buries itself and makes a cocoon. It will stay underground until the next spring. However, some pupae remain dormant for more than a year. If the yucca fails to bloom one year because of weather conditions, there will still be yucca moths around.
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Poster:
Locandina:
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/coverlg_home.jpg
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/locandina.jpg
www.cinematografo.it/image-service/version/c:M2QyY2FiZTct...
www.artribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/vangelo-seco...
www.nuovodialogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vangelo-s...
.............................................................................
click to activate the small icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream (it means the monitor);
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
………………………………………………………………………
I propose here, on Flickr, a photographic story, with descriptive text, of a traditional Sicilian popular festival that is always highly anticipated, it takes place in the town of Fiumedinisi (Messina), in the last 18 years what is called the "Great Feast" has been celebrated only 3 times, always on the second Sunday of August, it was celebrated in 2007, in 2016, this year 2025, in all three editions I took photographs, those that I now present are almost all of the "Great Feast" of this year 2025. The town of Fiumedinisi is inextricably linked to her patron saint, Our Lady of the Annunciation, every year a traditional procession is held on March 24th and 25th, on the 24th the procession is made by the faithful on their knees, they carry a large lit candle with which they help themselves to support themselves, it takes place along a straight path in what is called "street of float" (it joins two churches), the next day there is another traditional procession, the two "Sacred Float," that of the Our Lady of the Annunciation and that of the Archangel Gabriel, are carried on the shoulders, followed by the faithful, through the narrow streets of the town. Then comes the "Great Feast" in August, also linked to the Annunciation, which occurs every year after many years. It is on Christmas Eve that it is announced whether that year will be the year of the Great Feast. At Christmas, "the Son of Man" is born, incarnated in Mary's womb. It is the Archangel Gabriel who announces to Mary the conception of the Son of the Most High. The iconography of the Sacred Representations depicts him kneeling before her, offering her a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The "Great Feast" in August has ancient origins dating back to the 16th century, the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. It was initially celebrated on March 25th, the religious feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it was moved to August to allow the many emigrants from all over the world to attend. In short, the "Great Feast" includes a "morning procession" led by three young men who will impersonate the three main characters on the "living float"—the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the Eternal Father. Around 11:00 a.m., the "Great Living Float," a very heavy object carried on shoulders, will make its first journey along the "street of float" (the one traveled on one's knees in March, but also on the eve of the Great Feast) with the barefoot bearers in ordinary clothing. In the afternoon, many boys and girls dressed as angels take their places on special seats on the "Great Living Float", the "three characters" (the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the "Eternal Father" at the top) take their places. Now the Great Float will make the same journey in reverse, carried on the shoulders of devotee-bearers dressed entirely in white, barefoot, thus arriving in the square in front of the church-sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS Annunziata. Once the journey has finished and the Float has been placed on the ground, the ceremony includes, and ends, with an ancient dialect song sung by the children, with microphones, who dress up as Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. A curiosity, this "Great Float", an enormous metal and wood structure, extremely heavy, requires perfect coordination between the bearers. It is essential to raise and lower it in perfect synchrony, with all its "inhabitants" atop it. It is therefore crucial to avoid any oscillations that would be transmitted to the children seated at various heights, and to the Eternal Father, seated very high up. The moments preceding the float's departure, and those following its arrival, are of great concentration, silence is absolute, the launch occurs at the third blow of the hammer, all the devotee-bearers rise in perfect synchrony and "the magic comes to life"...! The Great Machine travels the "street of float" upon its arrival, there is maximum silence, and at the third blow of the hammer the devotee-bearers lower themselves, placing the incredible Living Float on the ground, renewing before our eyes an event of beauty and absolute wonder, the unique magic of an ancient Sicilian feast tradition.
…………………………………
Propongo qui, su Flickr, un racconto fotografico, con testo descrittivo, di una festa tradizionale popolare siciliana sempre molto attesa, si svolge nel paese di Fiumedinisi (Messina), negli ultimi 18 anni quella che è chiamata la “Festa Grande” si è celebrata solo 3 volte, sempre la seconda domenica di agosto, è stata celebrata nel 2007, nel 2016, quest’anno 2025, in tutte e tre le edizioni ho realizzato fotografie, quelle che ora presento sono quasi tutte della “Festa Grande” di quest’anno 2025. Il paese di Fiumedinisi è indissolubilmente legato alla sua santa patrona, Maria SS. Annunziata, ogni anno si tiene una tradizionale processione il 24 e 25 marzo, il 24 la processione viene fatta dai fedeli in ginocchio, essi recano una grossa candela accesa con la quale si aiutano nel sostenersi, si svolge lungo un percorso rettilineo in quella che è chiamata “strada vara” (unisce due chiese), il giorno dopo si ha un’altra processione, classica, le due “Sacre Vare”, quella di Maria SS. Annunziata e quella dell’Arcangelo Gabriele, vengono portate in spalla, seguite dai fedeli, nelle stradine del paese; poi la “Festa Grande” di agosto, legata anch’essa all’Annunciazione, che avviene ogni volta dopo molti anni: è la notte di Natale che si annuncia se quello sarà l’anno della Festa Grande, a Natale nasce “il Figlio dell’Uomo” incarnatosi nel ventre materno di Maria, è l’Arcangelo Gabriele che annuncia a Maria il concepimento del Figlio dell’Altissimo, l’iconografia delle Sacre Rappresentazioni lo raffigura inginocchiarsi al cospetto di Lei porgendole un giglio, simbolo della purezza di Maria. La “Festa Grande” di agosto ha origini antiche che risalgono al XVI secolo, periodo della dominazione spagnola in Sicilia, essa inizialmente veniva celebrata il 25 marzo, con la ricorrenza religiosa dell’Annunciazione del Signore, successivamente verso la fine del XIX secolo venne spostata ad agosto, per consentire ai molti emigrati, provenienti da ogni dove, di potervi assistere. In maniera sintetica, la “Festa Grande” prevede una “processione mattutina” con in testa i tre ragazzi che impersoneranno sulla “vara vivente” i tre principali personaggi, la Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele ed il Padre Eterno; verso le ore 11:00 la “Grande Vara Vivente”, pesantissima, portata in spalla farà un primo viaggio lungo la “strada vara” (quella che viene percorsa in ginocchio a marzo, ma anche la vigilia della Festa Grande) con i portatori scalzi, in abiti comuni; il pomeriggio sulla “Grande Vara Vivente” prendono posto su appositi seggiolini tanti bimbi e bimbe, vestiti da angeli, prendono posto i “tre personaggi” (Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele, in alto prende posto il “Padre Eterno”), adesso la Grande Vara farà lo stesso percorso inverso, portata sulle spalle dei devoti-portatori vestiti completamente di bianco, scalzi, così giungendo nella piazza davanti la chiesa-santuario dedicata a Maria SS Annunziata, terminato il percorso e deposta a terra la vara, la cerimonia prevede, e termina, con un antico canto dialettale intonato dai ragazzi, microfonati, che vestono i panni di Maria e dell’Arcangelo Gabriele. Una “curiosità”, questa “Vara Ranni” (dialettalmente, Vara Grande), enorme struttura in metallo e legno, pesantissima, necessita di una perfetta coordinazione tra i portatori, è fondamentale alzarla ed abbassarla in perfetto sincronismo, con sopra tutti i suoi “abitanti”, importantissimo quindi evitare qualsiasi oscillazione che si trasmetterebbe sui bimbi seduti a varie altezze, ed al Padre Eterno, seduto molto in alto: gli attimi che precedono la partenza della vara, e quelli che fanno seguito all’arrivo sono di grande concentrazione, il silenzio è massimo, la partenza avviene al terzo colpo di martello, tutti i devoti-portatori si alzano in perfetta sincronia e “la magia prende vita”…! La Grande Macchina percorre la “strada vara”, al suo arrivo, silenzio massimo, al terzo colpo di martello i devoti-portatori si abbassano deponendo a terra quella incredibile Vara Vivente che rinnova davanti ai nostri occhi un evento fatto di bellezza ed assoluta meraviglia, magia unica di una antica tradizione popolare Siciliana.
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-------------- Mag ik jullie aan Lieve voorstellen? Ze is nieuw op Flickr, ze houdt van foto’s nemen en ik zou haar graag een duwtje in de rug geven. Breng haar een bezoekje, zeg wat je van haar foto’s vindt… Je doet er haar en mij een plezier mee. Per slot van rekening houdt iedereen van goede kijkcijfers en commentaren.
Haar foto’s : Lieve
--------------- May I introduce you to Lieve? She’s a newcomer on Flickr, she loves photography and I’d like to give her a push. Please, have a look at her stream, tell her how you like her photos… You do a favour both to her and to me. After all, don’t we all like many views and comments?
Her photostream: Lieve
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Poster:
Locandina:
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/coverlg_home.jpg
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/locandina.jpg
www.cinematografo.it/image-service/version/c:M2QyY2FiZTct...
www.artribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/vangelo-seco...
www.nuovodialogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vangelo-s...
.............................................................................
click to activate the small icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream (it means the monitor);
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
………………………………………………………………………
I propose here, on Flickr, a photographic story, with descriptive text, of a traditional Sicilian popular festival that is always highly anticipated, it takes place in the town of Fiumedinisi (Messina), in the last 18 years what is called the "Great Feast" has been celebrated only 3 times, always on the second Sunday of August, it was celebrated in 2007, in 2016, this year 2025, in all three editions I took photographs, those that I now present are almost all of the "Great Feast" of this year 2025. The town of Fiumedinisi is inextricably linked to her patron saint, Our Lady of the Annunciation, every year a traditional procession is held on March 24th and 25th, on the 24th the procession is made by the faithful on their knees, they carry a large lit candle with which they help themselves to support themselves, it takes place along a straight path in what is called "street of float" (it joins two churches), the next day there is another traditional procession, the two "Sacred Float," that of the Our Lady of the Annunciation and that of the Archangel Gabriel, are carried on the shoulders, followed by the faithful, through the narrow streets of the town. Then comes the "Great Feast" in August, also linked to the Annunciation, which occurs every year after many years. It is on Christmas Eve that it is announced whether that year will be the year of the Great Feast. At Christmas, "the Son of Man" is born, incarnated in Mary's womb. It is the Archangel Gabriel who announces to Mary the conception of the Son of the Most High. The iconography of the Sacred Representations depicts him kneeling before her, offering her a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The "Great Feast" in August has ancient origins dating back to the 16th century, the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. It was initially celebrated on March 25th, the religious feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it was moved to August to allow the many emigrants from all over the world to attend. In short, the "Great Feast" includes a "morning procession" led by three young men who will impersonate the three main characters on the "living float"—the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the Eternal Father. Around 11:00 a.m., the "Great Living Float," a very heavy object carried on shoulders, will make its first journey along the "street of float" (the one traveled on one's knees in March, but also on the eve of the Great Feast) with the barefoot bearers in ordinary clothing. In the afternoon, many boys and girls dressed as angels take their places on special seats on the "Great Living Float", the "three characters" (the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the "Eternal Father" at the top) take their places. Now the Great Float will make the same journey in reverse, carried on the shoulders of devotee-bearers dressed entirely in white, barefoot, thus arriving in the square in front of the church-sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS Annunziata. Once the journey has finished and the Float has been placed on the ground, the ceremony includes, and ends, with an ancient dialect song sung by the children, with microphones, who dress up as Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. A curiosity, this "Great Float", an enormous metal and wood structure, extremely heavy, requires perfect coordination between the bearers. It is essential to raise and lower it in perfect synchrony, with all its "inhabitants" atop it. It is therefore crucial to avoid any oscillations that would be transmitted to the children seated at various heights, and to the Eternal Father, seated very high up. The moments preceding the float's departure, and those following its arrival, are of great concentration, silence is absolute, the launch occurs at the third blow of the hammer, all the devotee-bearers rise in perfect synchrony and "the magic comes to life"...! The Great Machine travels the "street of float" upon its arrival, there is maximum silence, and at the third blow of the hammer the devotee-bearers lower themselves, placing the incredible Living Float on the ground, renewing before our eyes an event of beauty and absolute wonder, the unique magic of an ancient Sicilian feast tradition.
…………………………………
Propongo qui, su Flickr, un racconto fotografico, con testo descrittivo, di una festa tradizionale popolare siciliana sempre molto attesa, si svolge nel paese di Fiumedinisi (Messina), negli ultimi 18 anni quella che è chiamata la “Festa Grande” si è celebrata solo 3 volte, sempre la seconda domenica di agosto, è stata celebrata nel 2007, nel 2016, quest’anno 2025, in tutte e tre le edizioni ho realizzato fotografie, quelle che ora presento sono quasi tutte della “Festa Grande” di quest’anno 2025. Il paese di Fiumedinisi è indissolubilmente legato alla sua santa patrona, Maria SS. Annunziata, ogni anno si tiene una tradizionale processione il 24 e 25 marzo, il 24 la processione viene fatta dai fedeli in ginocchio, essi recano una grossa candela accesa con la quale si aiutano nel sostenersi, si svolge lungo un percorso rettilineo in quella che è chiamata “strada vara” (unisce due chiese), il giorno dopo si ha un’altra processione, classica, le due “Sacre Vare”, quella di Maria SS. Annunziata e quella dell’Arcangelo Gabriele, vengono portate in spalla, seguite dai fedeli, nelle stradine del paese; poi la “Festa Grande” di agosto, legata anch’essa all’Annunciazione, che avviene ogni volta dopo molti anni: è la notte di Natale che si annuncia se quello sarà l’anno della Festa Grande, a Natale nasce “il Figlio dell’Uomo” incarnatosi nel ventre materno di Maria, è l’Arcangelo Gabriele che annuncia a Maria il concepimento del Figlio dell’Altissimo, l’iconografia delle Sacre Rappresentazioni lo raffigura inginocchiarsi al cospetto di Lei porgendole un giglio, simbolo della purezza di Maria. La “Festa Grande” di agosto ha origini antiche che risalgono al XVI secolo, periodo della dominazione spagnola in Sicilia, essa inizialmente veniva celebrata il 25 marzo, con la ricorrenza religiosa dell’Annunciazione del Signore, successivamente verso la fine del XIX secolo venne spostata ad agosto, per consentire ai molti emigrati, provenienti da ogni dove, di potervi assistere. In maniera sintetica, la “Festa Grande” prevede una “processione mattutina” con in testa i tre ragazzi che impersoneranno sulla “vara vivente” i tre principali personaggi, la Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele ed il Padre Eterno; verso le ore 11:00 la “Grande Vara Vivente”, pesantissima, portata in spalla farà un primo viaggio lungo la “strada vara” (quella che viene percorsa in ginocchio a marzo, ma anche la vigilia della Festa Grande) con i portatori scalzi, in abiti comuni; il pomeriggio sulla “Grande Vara Vivente” prendono posto su appositi seggiolini tanti bimbi e bimbe, vestiti da angeli, prendono posto i “tre personaggi” (Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele, in alto prende posto il “Padre Eterno”), adesso la Grande Vara farà lo stesso percorso inverso, portata sulle spalle dei devoti-portatori vestiti completamente di bianco, scalzi, così giungendo nella piazza davanti la chiesa-santuario dedicata a Maria SS Annunziata, terminato il percorso e deposta a terra la vara, la cerimonia prevede, e termina, con un antico canto dialettale intonato dai ragazzi, microfonati, che vestono i panni di Maria e dell’Arcangelo Gabriele. Una “curiosità”, questa “Vara Ranni” (dialettalmente, Vara Grande), enorme struttura in metallo e legno, pesantissima, necessita di una perfetta coordinazione tra i portatori, è fondamentale alzarla ed abbassarla in perfetto sincronismo, con sopra tutti i suoi “abitanti”, importantissimo quindi evitare qualsiasi oscillazione che si trasmetterebbe sui bimbi seduti a varie altezze, ed al Padre Eterno, seduto molto in alto: gli attimi che precedono la partenza della vara, e quelli che fanno seguito all’arrivo sono di grande concentrazione, il silenzio è massimo, la partenza avviene al terzo colpo di martello, tutti i devoti-portatori si alzano in perfetta sincronia e “la magia prende vita”…! La Grande Macchina percorre la “strada vara”, al suo arrivo, silenzio massimo, al terzo colpo di martello i devoti-portatori si abbassano deponendo a terra quella incredibile Vara Vivente che rinnova davanti ai nostri occhi un evento fatto di bellezza ed assoluta meraviglia, magia unica di una antica tradizione popolare Siciliana.
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Meet the Dalmatian pelican - the largest and rarest of the pelican species with a wingspan up to 10 feet! Rogue and Storm are currently at home in our Pelican Cove exhibit with a huge pond and a pair of islands for them to perch on to preen their feathers and sunbathe. These big birds are built to fish!The Dalmatian pelican is the largest member of the pelican family and perhaps the world's largest freshwater bird, although rivaled in weight and length by the largest swans. They are elegant soaring birds, with wingspans rivaling those of the great albatrosses, and their flocks fly in graceful synchrony.
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Poster:
Locandina:
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/coverlg_home.jpg
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/locandina.jpg
www.cinematografo.it/image-service/version/c:M2QyY2FiZTct...
www.artribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/vangelo-seco...
www.nuovodialogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vangelo-s...
.............................................................................
click to activate the small icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream (it means the monitor);
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
………………………………………………………………………
I propose here, on Flickr, a photographic story, with descriptive text, of a traditional Sicilian popular festival that is always highly anticipated, it takes place in the town of Fiumedinisi (Messina), in the last 18 years what is called the "Great Feast" has been celebrated only 3 times, always on the second Sunday of August, it was celebrated in 2007, in 2016, this year 2025, in all three editions I took photographs, those that I now present are almost all of the "Great Feast" of this year 2025. The town of Fiumedinisi is inextricably linked to her patron saint, Our Lady of the Annunciation, every year a traditional procession is held on March 24th and 25th, on the 24th the procession is made by the faithful on their knees, they carry a large lit candle with which they help themselves to support themselves, it takes place along a straight path in what is called "street of float" (it joins two churches), the next day there is another traditional procession, the two "Sacred Float," that of the Our Lady of the Annunciation and that of the Archangel Gabriel, are carried on the shoulders, followed by the faithful, through the narrow streets of the town. Then comes the "Great Feast" in August, also linked to the Annunciation, which occurs every year after many years. It is on Christmas Eve that it is announced whether that year will be the year of the Great Feast. At Christmas, "the Son of Man" is born, incarnated in Mary's womb. It is the Archangel Gabriel who announces to Mary the conception of the Son of the Most High. The iconography of the Sacred Representations depicts him kneeling before her, offering her a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The "Great Feast" in August has ancient origins dating back to the 16th century, the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. It was initially celebrated on March 25th, the religious feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it was moved to August to allow the many emigrants from all over the world to attend. In short, the "Great Feast" includes a "morning procession" led by three young men who will impersonate the three main characters on the "living float"—the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the Eternal Father. Around 11:00 a.m., the "Great Living Float," a very heavy object carried on shoulders, will make its first journey along the "street of float" (the one traveled on one's knees in March, but also on the eve of the Great Feast) with the barefoot bearers in ordinary clothing. In the afternoon, many boys and girls dressed as angels take their places on special seats on the "Great Living Float", the "three characters" (the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the "Eternal Father" at the top) take their places. Now the Great Float will make the same journey in reverse, carried on the shoulders of devotee-bearers dressed entirely in white, barefoot, thus arriving in the square in front of the church-sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS Annunziata. Once the journey has finished and the Float has been placed on the ground, the ceremony includes, and ends, with an ancient dialect song sung by the children, with microphones, who dress up as Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. A curiosity, this "Great Float", an enormous metal and wood structure, extremely heavy, requires perfect coordination between the bearers. It is essential to raise and lower it in perfect synchrony, with all its "inhabitants" atop it. It is therefore crucial to avoid any oscillations that would be transmitted to the children seated at various heights, and to the Eternal Father, seated very high up. The moments preceding the float's departure, and those following its arrival, are of great concentration, silence is absolute, the launch occurs at the third blow of the hammer, all the devotee-bearers rise in perfect synchrony and "the magic comes to life"...! The Great Machine travels the "street of float" upon its arrival, there is maximum silence, and at the third blow of the hammer the devotee-bearers lower themselves, placing the incredible Living Float on the ground, renewing before our eyes an event of beauty and absolute wonder, the unique magic of an ancient Sicilian feast tradition.
…………………………………
Propongo qui, su Flickr, un racconto fotografico, con testo descrittivo, di una festa tradizionale popolare siciliana sempre molto attesa, si svolge nel paese di Fiumedinisi (Messina), negli ultimi 18 anni quella che è chiamata la “Festa Grande” si è celebrata solo 3 volte, sempre la seconda domenica di agosto, è stata celebrata nel 2007, nel 2016, quest’anno 2025, in tutte e tre le edizioni ho realizzato fotografie, quelle che ora presento sono quasi tutte della “Festa Grande” di quest’anno 2025. Il paese di Fiumedinisi è indissolubilmente legato alla sua santa patrona, Maria SS. Annunziata, ogni anno si tiene una tradizionale processione il 24 e 25 marzo, il 24 la processione viene fatta dai fedeli in ginocchio, essi recano una grossa candela accesa con la quale si aiutano nel sostenersi, si svolge lungo un percorso rettilineo in quella che è chiamata “strada vara” (unisce due chiese), il giorno dopo si ha un’altra processione, classica, le due “Sacre Vare”, quella di Maria SS. Annunziata e quella dell’Arcangelo Gabriele, vengono portate in spalla, seguite dai fedeli, nelle stradine del paese; poi la “Festa Grande” di agosto, legata anch’essa all’Annunciazione, che avviene ogni volta dopo molti anni: è la notte di Natale che si annuncia se quello sarà l’anno della Festa Grande, a Natale nasce “il Figlio dell’Uomo” incarnatosi nel ventre materno di Maria, è l’Arcangelo Gabriele che annuncia a Maria il concepimento del Figlio dell’Altissimo, l’iconografia delle Sacre Rappresentazioni lo raffigura inginocchiarsi al cospetto di Lei porgendole un giglio, simbolo della purezza di Maria. La “Festa Grande” di agosto ha origini antiche che risalgono al XVI secolo, periodo della dominazione spagnola in Sicilia, essa inizialmente veniva celebrata il 25 marzo, con la ricorrenza religiosa dell’Annunciazione del Signore, successivamente verso la fine del XIX secolo venne spostata ad agosto, per consentire ai molti emigrati, provenienti da ogni dove, di potervi assistere. In maniera sintetica, la “Festa Grande” prevede una “processione mattutina” con in testa i tre ragazzi che impersoneranno sulla “vara vivente” i tre principali personaggi, la Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele ed il Padre Eterno; verso le ore 11:00 la “Grande Vara Vivente”, pesantissima, portata in spalla farà un primo viaggio lungo la “strada vara” (quella che viene percorsa in ginocchio a marzo, ma anche la vigilia della Festa Grande) con i portatori scalzi, in abiti comuni; il pomeriggio sulla “Grande Vara Vivente” prendono posto su appositi seggiolini tanti bimbi e bimbe, vestiti da angeli, prendono posto i “tre personaggi” (Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele, in alto prende posto il “Padre Eterno”), adesso la Grande Vara farà lo stesso percorso inverso, portata sulle spalle dei devoti-portatori vestiti completamente di bianco, scalzi, così giungendo nella piazza davanti la chiesa-santuario dedicata a Maria SS Annunziata, terminato il percorso e deposta a terra la vara, la cerimonia prevede, e termina, con un antico canto dialettale intonato dai ragazzi, microfonati, che vestono i panni di Maria e dell’Arcangelo Gabriele. Una “curiosità”, questa “Vara Ranni” (dialettalmente, Vara Grande), enorme struttura in metallo e legno, pesantissima, necessita di una perfetta coordinazione tra i portatori, è fondamentale alzarla ed abbassarla in perfetto sincronismo, con sopra tutti i suoi “abitanti”, importantissimo quindi evitare qualsiasi oscillazione che si trasmetterebbe sui bimbi seduti a varie altezze, ed al Padre Eterno, seduto molto in alto: gli attimi che precedono la partenza della vara, e quelli che fanno seguito all’arrivo sono di grande concentrazione, il silenzio è massimo, la partenza avviene al terzo colpo di martello, tutti i devoti-portatori si alzano in perfetta sincronia e “la magia prende vita”…! La Grande Macchina percorre la “strada vara”, al suo arrivo, silenzio massimo, al terzo colpo di martello i devoti-portatori si abbassano deponendo a terra quella incredibile Vara Vivente che rinnova davanti ai nostri occhi un evento fatto di bellezza ed assoluta meraviglia, magia unica di una antica tradizione popolare Siciliana.
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A beautiful morning watching the sun light up the sky. It is very hard to get the peak of sunrise at this place and have perfectly still water. When i took this shot, there were swimmers doing laps in the lanes on both sides of me, so i simply waited until they had all swum to the other end in synchrony before pulling the trigger for a long exposure. I still don't think i've cracked this place!
Performed by the Brunette Nested Birds in synchrony with the Brush, Pin, Tease, and Spray Quartet.
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iPhone Photography and Processing
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Hope to see you here: www.facebook.com/angielambertphotographyandillustration/?...
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Poster:
Locandina:
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/coverlg_home.jpg
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/locandina.jpg
www.cinematografo.it/image-service/version/c:M2QyY2FiZTct...
www.artribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/vangelo-seco...
www.nuovodialogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vangelo-s...
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click to activate the small icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream (it means the monitor);
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
………………………………………………………………………
I propose here, on Flickr, a photographic story, with descriptive text, of a traditional Sicilian popular festival that is always highly anticipated, it takes place in the town of Fiumedinisi (Messina), in the last 18 years what is called the "Great Feast" has been celebrated only 3 times, always on the second Sunday of August, it was celebrated in 2007, in 2016, this year 2025, in all three editions I took photographs, those that I now present are almost all of the "Great Feast" of this year 2025. The town of Fiumedinisi is inextricably linked to her patron saint, Our Lady of the Annunciation, every year a traditional procession is held on March 24th and 25th, on the 24th the procession is made by the faithful on their knees, they carry a large lit candle with which they help themselves to support themselves, it takes place along a straight path in what is called "street of float" (it joins two churches), the next day there is another traditional procession, the two "Sacred Float," that of the Our Lady of the Annunciation and that of the Archangel Gabriel, are carried on the shoulders, followed by the faithful, through the narrow streets of the town. Then comes the "Great Feast" in August, also linked to the Annunciation, which occurs every year after many years. It is on Christmas Eve that it is announced whether that year will be the year of the Great Feast. At Christmas, "the Son of Man" is born, incarnated in Mary's womb. It is the Archangel Gabriel who announces to Mary the conception of the Son of the Most High. The iconography of the Sacred Representations depicts him kneeling before her, offering her a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The "Great Feast" in August has ancient origins dating back to the 16th century, the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. It was initially celebrated on March 25th, the religious feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it was moved to August to allow the many emigrants from all over the world to attend. In short, the "Great Feast" includes a "morning procession" led by three young men who will impersonate the three main characters on the "living float"—the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the Eternal Father. Around 11:00 a.m., the "Great Living Float," a very heavy object carried on shoulders, will make its first journey along the "street of float" (the one traveled on one's knees in March, but also on the eve of the Great Feast) with the barefoot bearers in ordinary clothing. In the afternoon, many boys and girls dressed as angels take their places on special seats on the "Great Living Float", the "three characters" (the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the "Eternal Father" at the top) take their places. Now the Great Float will make the same journey in reverse, carried on the shoulders of devotee-bearers dressed entirely in white, barefoot, thus arriving in the square in front of the church-sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS Annunziata. Once the journey has finished and the Float has been placed on the ground, the ceremony includes, and ends, with an ancient dialect song sung by the children, with microphones, who dress up as Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. A curiosity, this "Great Float", an enormous metal and wood structure, extremely heavy, requires perfect coordination between the bearers. It is essential to raise and lower it in perfect synchrony, with all its "inhabitants" atop it. It is therefore crucial to avoid any oscillations that would be transmitted to the children seated at various heights, and to the Eternal Father, seated very high up. The moments preceding the float's departure, and those following its arrival, are of great concentration, silence is absolute, the launch occurs at the third blow of the hammer, all the devotee-bearers rise in perfect synchrony and "the magic comes to life"...! The Great Machine travels the "street of float" upon its arrival, there is maximum silence, and at the third blow of the hammer the devotee-bearers lower themselves, placing the incredible Living Float on the ground, renewing before our eyes an event of beauty and absolute wonder, the unique magic of an ancient Sicilian feast tradition.
…………………………………
Propongo qui, su Flickr, un racconto fotografico, con testo descrittivo, di una festa tradizionale popolare siciliana sempre molto attesa, si svolge nel paese di Fiumedinisi (Messina), negli ultimi 18 anni quella che è chiamata la “Festa Grande” si è celebrata solo 3 volte, sempre la seconda domenica di agosto, è stata celebrata nel 2007, nel 2016, quest’anno 2025, in tutte e tre le edizioni ho realizzato fotografie, quelle che ora presento sono quasi tutte della “Festa Grande” di quest’anno 2025. Il paese di Fiumedinisi è indissolubilmente legato alla sua santa patrona, Maria SS. Annunziata, ogni anno si tiene una tradizionale processione il 24 e 25 marzo, il 24 la processione viene fatta dai fedeli in ginocchio, essi recano una grossa candela accesa con la quale si aiutano nel sostenersi, si svolge lungo un percorso rettilineo in quella che è chiamata “strada vara” (unisce due chiese), il giorno dopo si ha un’altra processione, classica, le due “Sacre Vare”, quella di Maria SS. Annunziata e quella dell’Arcangelo Gabriele, vengono portate in spalla, seguite dai fedeli, nelle stradine del paese; poi la “Festa Grande” di agosto, legata anch’essa all’Annunciazione, che avviene ogni volta dopo molti anni: è la notte di Natale che si annuncia se quello sarà l’anno della Festa Grande, a Natale nasce “il Figlio dell’Uomo” incarnatosi nel ventre materno di Maria, è l’Arcangelo Gabriele che annuncia a Maria il concepimento del Figlio dell’Altissimo, l’iconografia delle Sacre Rappresentazioni lo raffigura inginocchiarsi al cospetto di Lei porgendole un giglio, simbolo della purezza di Maria. La “Festa Grande” di agosto ha origini antiche che risalgono al XVI secolo, periodo della dominazione spagnola in Sicilia, essa inizialmente veniva celebrata il 25 marzo, con la ricorrenza religiosa dell’Annunciazione del Signore, successivamente verso la fine del XIX secolo venne spostata ad agosto, per consentire ai molti emigrati, provenienti da ogni dove, di potervi assistere. In maniera sintetica, la “Festa Grande” prevede una “processione mattutina” con in testa i tre ragazzi che impersoneranno sulla “vara vivente” i tre principali personaggi, la Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele ed il Padre Eterno; verso le ore 11:00 la “Grande Vara Vivente”, pesantissima, portata in spalla farà un primo viaggio lungo la “strada vara” (quella che viene percorsa in ginocchio a marzo, ma anche la vigilia della Festa Grande) con i portatori scalzi, in abiti comuni; il pomeriggio sulla “Grande Vara Vivente” prendono posto su appositi seggiolini tanti bimbi e bimbe, vestiti da angeli, prendono posto i “tre personaggi” (Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele, in alto prende posto il “Padre Eterno”), adesso la Grande Vara farà lo stesso percorso inverso, portata sulle spalle dei devoti-portatori vestiti completamente di bianco, scalzi, così giungendo nella piazza davanti la chiesa-santuario dedicata a Maria SS Annunziata, terminato il percorso e deposta a terra la vara, la cerimonia prevede, e termina, con un antico canto dialettale intonato dai ragazzi, microfonati, che vestono i panni di Maria e dell’Arcangelo Gabriele. Una “curiosità”, questa “Vara Ranni” (dialettalmente, Vara Grande), enorme struttura in metallo e legno, pesantissima, necessita di una perfetta coordinazione tra i portatori, è fondamentale alzarla ed abbassarla in perfetto sincronismo, con sopra tutti i suoi “abitanti”, importantissimo quindi evitare qualsiasi oscillazione che si trasmetterebbe sui bimbi seduti a varie altezze, ed al Padre Eterno, seduto molto in alto: gli attimi che precedono la partenza della vara, e quelli che fanno seguito all’arrivo sono di grande concentrazione, il silenzio è massimo, la partenza avviene al terzo colpo di martello, tutti i devoti-portatori si alzano in perfetta sincronia e “la magia prende vita”…! La Grande Macchina percorre la “strada vara”, al suo arrivo, silenzio massimo, al terzo colpo di martello i devoti-portatori si abbassano deponendo a terra quella incredibile Vara Vivente che rinnova davanti ai nostri occhi un evento fatto di bellezza ed assoluta meraviglia, magia unica di una antica tradizione popolare Siciliana.
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……………………………….
Poster:
Locandina:
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/coverlg_home.jpg
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/locandina.jpg
www.cinematografo.it/image-service/version/c:M2QyY2FiZTct...
www.artribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/vangelo-seco...
www.nuovodialogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vangelo-s...
.............................................................................
click to activate the small icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream (it means the monitor);
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
………………………………………………………………………
I propose here, on Flickr, a photographic story, with descriptive text, of a traditional Sicilian popular festival that is always highly anticipated, it takes place in the town of Fiumedinisi (Messina), in the last 18 years what is called the "Great Feast" has been celebrated only 3 times, always on the second Sunday of August, it was celebrated in 2007, in 2016, this year 2025, in all three editions I took photographs, those that I now present are almost all of the "Great Feast" of this year 2025. The town of Fiumedinisi is inextricably linked to her patron saint, Our Lady of the Annunciation, every year a traditional procession is held on March 24th and 25th, on the 24th the procession is made by the faithful on their knees, they carry a large lit candle with which they help themselves to support themselves, it takes place along a straight path in what is called "street of float" (it joins two churches), the next day there is another traditional procession, the two "Sacred Float," that of the Our Lady of the Annunciation and that of the Archangel Gabriel, are carried on the shoulders, followed by the faithful, through the narrow streets of the town. Then comes the "Great Feast" in August, also linked to the Annunciation, which occurs every year after many years. It is on Christmas Eve that it is announced whether that year will be the year of the Great Feast. At Christmas, "the Son of Man" is born, incarnated in Mary's womb. It is the Archangel Gabriel who announces to Mary the conception of the Son of the Most High. The iconography of the Sacred Representations depicts him kneeling before her, offering her a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The "Great Feast" in August has ancient origins dating back to the 16th century, the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. It was initially celebrated on March 25th, the religious feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it was moved to August to allow the many emigrants from all over the world to attend. In short, the "Great Feast" includes a "morning procession" led by three young men who will impersonate the three main characters on the "living float"—the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the Eternal Father. Around 11:00 a.m., the "Great Living Float," a very heavy object carried on shoulders, will make its first journey along the "street of float" (the one traveled on one's knees in March, but also on the eve of the Great Feast) with the barefoot bearers in ordinary clothing. In the afternoon, many boys and girls dressed as angels take their places on special seats on the "Great Living Float", the "three characters" (the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the "Eternal Father" at the top) take their places. Now the Great Float will make the same journey in reverse, carried on the shoulders of devotee-bearers dressed entirely in white, barefoot, thus arriving in the square in front of the church-sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS Annunziata. Once the journey has finished and the Float has been placed on the ground, the ceremony includes, and ends, with an ancient dialect song sung by the children, with microphones, who dress up as Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. A curiosity, this "Great Float", an enormous metal and wood structure, extremely heavy, requires perfect coordination between the bearers. It is essential to raise and lower it in perfect synchrony, with all its "inhabitants" atop it. It is therefore crucial to avoid any oscillations that would be transmitted to the children seated at various heights, and to the Eternal Father, seated very high up. The moments preceding the float's departure, and those following its arrival, are of great concentration, silence is absolute, the launch occurs at the third blow of the hammer, all the devotee-bearers rise in perfect synchrony and "the magic comes to life"...! The Great Machine travels the "street of float" upon its arrival, there is maximum silence, and at the third blow of the hammer the devotee-bearers lower themselves, placing the incredible Living Float on the ground, renewing before our eyes an event of beauty and absolute wonder, the unique magic of an ancient Sicilian feast tradition.
…………………………………
Propongo qui, su Flickr, un racconto fotografico, con testo descrittivo, di una festa tradizionale popolare siciliana sempre molto attesa, si svolge nel paese di Fiumedinisi (Messina), negli ultimi 18 anni quella che è chiamata la “Festa Grande” si è celebrata solo 3 volte, sempre la seconda domenica di agosto, è stata celebrata nel 2007, nel 2016, quest’anno 2025, in tutte e tre le edizioni ho realizzato fotografie, quelle che ora presento sono quasi tutte della “Festa Grande” di quest’anno 2025. Il paese di Fiumedinisi è indissolubilmente legato alla sua santa patrona, Maria SS. Annunziata, ogni anno si tiene una tradizionale processione il 24 e 25 marzo, il 24 la processione viene fatta dai fedeli in ginocchio, essi recano una grossa candela accesa con la quale si aiutano nel sostenersi, si svolge lungo un percorso rettilineo in quella che è chiamata “strada vara” (unisce due chiese), il giorno dopo si ha un’altra processione, classica, le due “Sacre Vare”, quella di Maria SS. Annunziata e quella dell’Arcangelo Gabriele, vengono portate in spalla, seguite dai fedeli, nelle stradine del paese; poi la “Festa Grande” di agosto, legata anch’essa all’Annunciazione, che avviene ogni volta dopo molti anni: è la notte di Natale che si annuncia se quello sarà l’anno della Festa Grande, a Natale nasce “il Figlio dell’Uomo” incarnatosi nel ventre materno di Maria, è l’Arcangelo Gabriele che annuncia a Maria il concepimento del Figlio dell’Altissimo, l’iconografia delle Sacre Rappresentazioni lo raffigura inginocchiarsi al cospetto di Lei porgendole un giglio, simbolo della purezza di Maria. La “Festa Grande” di agosto ha origini antiche che risalgono al XVI secolo, periodo della dominazione spagnola in Sicilia, essa inizialmente veniva celebrata il 25 marzo, con la ricorrenza religiosa dell’Annunciazione del Signore, successivamente verso la fine del XIX secolo venne spostata ad agosto, per consentire ai molti emigrati, provenienti da ogni dove, di potervi assistere. In maniera sintetica, la “Festa Grande” prevede una “processione mattutina” con in testa i tre ragazzi che impersoneranno sulla “vara vivente” i tre principali personaggi, la Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele ed il Padre Eterno; verso le ore 11:00 la “Grande Vara Vivente”, pesantissima, portata in spalla farà un primo viaggio lungo la “strada vara” (quella che viene percorsa in ginocchio a marzo, ma anche la vigilia della Festa Grande) con i portatori scalzi, in abiti comuni; il pomeriggio sulla “Grande Vara Vivente” prendono posto su appositi seggiolini tanti bimbi e bimbe, vestiti da angeli, prendono posto i “tre personaggi” (Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele, in alto prende posto il “Padre Eterno”), adesso la Grande Vara farà lo stesso percorso inverso, portata sulle spalle dei devoti-portatori vestiti completamente di bianco, scalzi, così giungendo nella piazza davanti la chiesa-santuario dedicata a Maria SS Annunziata, terminato il percorso e deposta a terra la vara, la cerimonia prevede, e termina, con un antico canto dialettale intonato dai ragazzi, microfonati, che vestono i panni di Maria e dell’Arcangelo Gabriele. Una “curiosità”, questa “Vara Ranni” (dialettalmente, Vara Grande), enorme struttura in metallo e legno, pesantissima, necessita di una perfetta coordinazione tra i portatori, è fondamentale alzarla ed abbassarla in perfetto sincronismo, con sopra tutti i suoi “abitanti”, importantissimo quindi evitare qualsiasi oscillazione che si trasmetterebbe sui bimbi seduti a varie altezze, ed al Padre Eterno, seduto molto in alto: gli attimi che precedono la partenza della vara, e quelli che fanno seguito all’arrivo sono di grande concentrazione, il silenzio è massimo, la partenza avviene al terzo colpo di martello, tutti i devoti-portatori si alzano in perfetta sincronia e “la magia prende vita”…! La Grande Macchina percorre la “strada vara”, al suo arrivo, silenzio massimo, al terzo colpo di martello i devoti-portatori si abbassano deponendo a terra quella incredibile Vara Vivente che rinnova davanti ai nostri occhi un evento fatto di bellezza ed assoluta meraviglia, magia unica di una antica tradizione popolare Siciliana.
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I have noticed of late that I am (occasionally) tempted to try the video capabilities of my camera ... this photo represents a case in point. The elegance of the birds and their ability to fly 'in sync' can only be done justice in a video. It was wondrous to watch them circle, swirl and swoop as the owner of the coop called them home (apparently the 'owners' prefer to be called 'fanciers' but I am naive about such things - until just now when I looked it up).
I estimate the flock circled the building some 25 times before finally landing - almost simultaneously.
Please save me from this temptation to do videos. I cannot take on any new learning curves and you know what they say about 'old dogs.'
- Loures, Portugal -
As many of you know, I love the patterns, shapes, & graceful beauty of birds in flight, & especially, groups of birds in flight. There seems to be a synchrony to their flight. Maybe even a dance? Who knows? I am awed by Mother Nature. I am also not going to presume that I, with only the senses I've been given, can fully understand what's being communicated In scenes such as this. To take this a step further. I am a bit of a tree fanatic. We have a heavily wooded area behind our house, & over the quarter of a century that we have lived there, I have spent countless hours watching the trees. I believe their movements, & the wind initiating their movement, might be a language that I just can not understand with the faculties I've been given. I can feel something..... it stirs deep inside when the wind, trees, & leaves sing their song. I have that same stirring inside when I not just watch, but feel, the beauty of birds in flight. Who knows? It also could be just a tad to much experimentation in college!
A trio of gracefully curved aspen trees reach up for the sun and skies on a glorious Colorado autumn day.
Looks better larger and on black. EXIF data didn't reveal that a 14mm lens was used here.
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Poster:
Locandina:
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/coverlg_home.jpg
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/locandina.jpg
www.cinematografo.it/image-service/version/c:M2QyY2FiZTct...
www.artribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/vangelo-seco...
www.nuovodialogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vangelo-s...
.............................................................................
click to activate the small icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream (it means the monitor);
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
………………………………………………………………………
I propose here, on Flickr, a photographic story, with descriptive text, of a traditional Sicilian popular festival that is always highly anticipated, it takes place in the town of Fiumedinisi (Messina), in the last 18 years what is called the "Great Feast" has been celebrated only 3 times, always on the second Sunday of August, it was celebrated in 2007, in 2016, this year 2025, in all three editions I took photographs, those that I now present are almost all of the "Great Feast" of this year 2025. The town of Fiumedinisi is inextricably linked to her patron saint, Our Lady of the Annunciation, every year a traditional procession is held on March 24th and 25th, on the 24th the procession is made by the faithful on their knees, they carry a large lit candle with which they help themselves to support themselves, it takes place along a straight path in what is called "street of float" (it joins two churches), the next day there is another traditional procession, the two "Sacred Float," that of the Our Lady of the Annunciation and that of the Archangel Gabriel, are carried on the shoulders, followed by the faithful, through the narrow streets of the town. Then comes the "Great Feast" in August, also linked to the Annunciation, which occurs every year after many years. It is on Christmas Eve that it is announced whether that year will be the year of the Great Feast. At Christmas, "the Son of Man" is born, incarnated in Mary's womb. It is the Archangel Gabriel who announces to Mary the conception of the Son of the Most High. The iconography of the Sacred Representations depicts him kneeling before her, offering her a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The "Great Feast" in August has ancient origins dating back to the 16th century, the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. It was initially celebrated on March 25th, the religious feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it was moved to August to allow the many emigrants from all over the world to attend. In short, the "Great Feast" includes a "morning procession" led by three young men who will impersonate the three main characters on the "living float"—the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the Eternal Father. Around 11:00 a.m., the "Great Living Float," a very heavy object carried on shoulders, will make its first journey along the "street of float" (the one traveled on one's knees in March, but also on the eve of the Great Feast) with the barefoot bearers in ordinary clothing. In the afternoon, many boys and girls dressed as angels take their places on special seats on the "Great Living Float", the "three characters" (the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the "Eternal Father" at the top) take their places. Now the Great Float will make the same journey in reverse, carried on the shoulders of devotee-bearers dressed entirely in white, barefoot, thus arriving in the square in front of the church-sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS Annunziata. Once the journey has finished and the Float has been placed on the ground, the ceremony includes, and ends, with an ancient dialect song sung by the children, with microphones, who dress up as Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. A curiosity, this "Great Float", an enormous metal and wood structure, extremely heavy, requires perfect coordination between the bearers. It is essential to raise and lower it in perfect synchrony, with all its "inhabitants" atop it. It is therefore crucial to avoid any oscillations that would be transmitted to the children seated at various heights, and to the Eternal Father, seated very high up. The moments preceding the float's departure, and those following its arrival, are of great concentration, silence is absolute, the launch occurs at the third blow of the hammer, all the devotee-bearers rise in perfect synchrony and "the magic comes to life"...! The Great Machine travels the "street of float" upon its arrival, there is maximum silence, and at the third blow of the hammer the devotee-bearers lower themselves, placing the incredible Living Float on the ground, renewing before our eyes an event of beauty and absolute wonder, the unique magic of an ancient Sicilian feast tradition.
…………………………………
Propongo qui, su Flickr, un racconto fotografico, con testo descrittivo, di una festa tradizionale popolare siciliana sempre molto attesa, si svolge nel paese di Fiumedinisi (Messina), negli ultimi 18 anni quella che è chiamata la “Festa Grande” si è celebrata solo 3 volte, sempre la seconda domenica di agosto, è stata celebrata nel 2007, nel 2016, quest’anno 2025, in tutte e tre le edizioni ho realizzato fotografie, quelle che ora presento sono quasi tutte della “Festa Grande” di quest’anno 2025. Il paese di Fiumedinisi è indissolubilmente legato alla sua santa patrona, Maria SS. Annunziata, ogni anno si tiene una tradizionale processione il 24 e 25 marzo, il 24 la processione viene fatta dai fedeli in ginocchio, essi recano una grossa candela accesa con la quale si aiutano nel sostenersi, si svolge lungo un percorso rettilineo in quella che è chiamata “strada vara” (unisce due chiese), il giorno dopo si ha un’altra processione, classica, le due “Sacre Vare”, quella di Maria SS. Annunziata e quella dell’Arcangelo Gabriele, vengono portate in spalla, seguite dai fedeli, nelle stradine del paese; poi la “Festa Grande” di agosto, legata anch’essa all’Annunciazione, che avviene ogni volta dopo molti anni: è la notte di Natale che si annuncia se quello sarà l’anno della Festa Grande, a Natale nasce “il Figlio dell’Uomo” incarnatosi nel ventre materno di Maria, è l’Arcangelo Gabriele che annuncia a Maria il concepimento del Figlio dell’Altissimo, l’iconografia delle Sacre Rappresentazioni lo raffigura inginocchiarsi al cospetto di Lei porgendole un giglio, simbolo della purezza di Maria. La “Festa Grande” di agosto ha origini antiche che risalgono al XVI secolo, periodo della dominazione spagnola in Sicilia, essa inizialmente veniva celebrata il 25 marzo, con la ricorrenza religiosa dell’Annunciazione del Signore, successivamente verso la fine del XIX secolo venne spostata ad agosto, per consentire ai molti emigrati, provenienti da ogni dove, di potervi assistere. In maniera sintetica, la “Festa Grande” prevede una “processione mattutina” con in testa i tre ragazzi che impersoneranno sulla “vara vivente” i tre principali personaggi, la Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele ed il Padre Eterno; verso le ore 11:00 la “Grande Vara Vivente”, pesantissima, portata in spalla farà un primo viaggio lungo la “strada vara” (quella che viene percorsa in ginocchio a marzo, ma anche la vigilia della Festa Grande) con i portatori scalzi, in abiti comuni; il pomeriggio sulla “Grande Vara Vivente” prendono posto su appositi seggiolini tanti bimbi e bimbe, vestiti da angeli, prendono posto i “tre personaggi” (Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele, in alto prende posto il “Padre Eterno”), adesso la Grande Vara farà lo stesso percorso inverso, portata sulle spalle dei devoti-portatori vestiti completamente di bianco, scalzi, così giungendo nella piazza davanti la chiesa-santuario dedicata a Maria SS Annunziata, terminato il percorso e deposta a terra la vara, la cerimonia prevede, e termina, con un antico canto dialettale intonato dai ragazzi, microfonati, che vestono i panni di Maria e dell’Arcangelo Gabriele. Una “curiosità”, questa “Vara Ranni” (dialettalmente, Vara Grande), enorme struttura in metallo e legno, pesantissima, necessita di una perfetta coordinazione tra i portatori, è fondamentale alzarla ed abbassarla in perfetto sincronismo, con sopra tutti i suoi “abitanti”, importantissimo quindi evitare qualsiasi oscillazione che si trasmetterebbe sui bimbi seduti a varie altezze, ed al Padre Eterno, seduto molto in alto: gli attimi che precedono la partenza della vara, e quelli che fanno seguito all’arrivo sono di grande concentrazione, il silenzio è massimo, la partenza avviene al terzo colpo di martello, tutti i devoti-portatori si alzano in perfetta sincronia e “la magia prende vita”…! La Grande Macchina percorre la “strada vara”, al suo arrivo, silenzio massimo, al terzo colpo di martello i devoti-portatori si abbassano deponendo a terra quella incredibile Vara Vivente che rinnova davanti ai nostri occhi un evento fatto di bellezza ed assoluta meraviglia, magia unica di una antica tradizione popolare Siciliana.
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Recurvirostra americana several minutes after mating,
Carrizo Plain,
San Luis Obispo Co., California
We were hoping to see pairs of avocets at the edges of Soda Lake, but this was in a series of expanses of shallow, flooded land following recent repeated rains.
The brothers Titus and Brutus share a copacetic moment of synchrony.
At Brookfield Zoo - mid morning at the start of a hot day. They are normally sweet together, but usually just sleeping/lounging. I was walking by and saw this unusual dual pose, and quickly snapped off a few captures. The harmonic lines of their profiles really grabbed my attention!
The Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) is the largest of the eight pelican species, averaging 10-15 kg in weight, 160-190 cm in length, and over 3m in wingspan. The Dalmatian Pelican differs from the Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) in that it has curly nape feathers, grey legs and greyish-white (rather than pure white) plumage. It has a red lower mandible in the breeding season.
It breeds from southeastern Europe to Central Asia in swamps and shallow lakes.
There are around 1,000 breeding pairs in Europe, most of them in Ukraine, Russia, Greece, Romania (Danube Delta), Bulgaria and Albania (Karavasta Lagoon).
This pelican migrates short distances. In flight, it is an elegant soaring bird, with the flock moving in synchrony. The neck is then held back like a heron. As is well known, pelicans catch fish and small birds in their huge bill pouches.
Like the White Pelican, this species has declined greatly through habitat loss and persecution.
Kroeskoppelikaan in de dierentuin van Antwerpen, België
De kroeskoppelikaan (Pelcanus crispus) is de grootste van de acht pelikaansoort, gemiddeld 10 à 15 kg in gewicht, 160 à 190 cm in lengte, en meer dan 3 meter vleugelspanwijdte. Deze pelikaan verschilt van de roze pelikaan (Pelecanus onocrotalus) door de krullende nekveren, de grijze poten en het grijs-witte verenkleed (in plaats van wit-roze). In het broedseizoen is de ondersnavel rood.
De kroeskoppelikaan broedt in zuidoost Europa tot in centraal Azië in moerassen en bij ondiepe meren. Er zijn ongeveer 1.000 broedparen in Europa, de meeste van hen in Oekraïne, Rusland, Griekenland, Roemenië (Donaudelta), Bulgarije en Albanië (Karavasta Lagoon).
Het is een elegant stijgende vogel, en vliegt vaak synchroon in grote zwermen op zoek naar vissen. De hals wordt als een reiger ingetrokken. Als de pelikanen een school vissen hebben gevonden, steken ze de snavel in het water. De vissen kunnen aan de wand van de opengesperde snavels lastig ontsnappen en zitten zo in de val. Met de grote keelzak, met een inhoud van twaalf liter, scheppen ze zo vis uit het water. Met de haakvormige punt aan de snavel wordt de vis vastgehouden, die daarna in de lucht wordt gegooid, in de keelzak weer wordt opgevangen en vervolgens ingeslikt. Ook eten pelikanen kleine vogels.
Net als bij de roze pelikaan is het leefgebied voor de kroeskoppelikaan sterk kleiner geworden door overbevissing en vervolging.
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All rights reserved . Copyright © Martien Uiterweerd. All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission.
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Dalmatian Pelican_w_7182
Lake Kerkini - Winter
THE DALMATIAN PELICANS OF LAKE KERKINI OFFER A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME GOOD NEWS.
Since conservation measures have been put into practice across Europe the largest member of the pelican family has enjoyed a population boost, securing a downgrade from Vulnerable to Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Globally however, the Dalmatian pelican remains under threat, with a global population of between 10,400 and 13,900. Despite a European recovery, the worldwide population trend is decreasing.
On Lake Kerkini, Greece, this recovery is particularly noticeable, especially since the implementation of artificial platforms by the local management body contributed to the expanding of their breeding range. It is also a unique trait of the pelicans here that, rather than being wary and shy, these gentle giants are curious and calm around humans. The artificial lake, which was first formed in 1932 with the creation of a dam on the River Strymon, is protected by the Ramsar Convention and is an area of the European Natura 2000 Network. The size of the lake varies from 54,250 to 72,110 acres depending on the season.
The lake is a very important area for migratory birds, providing both breeding grounds and a safe ‘stopover’ for birds to rest on their long migrations. Lake Kerkini, which is fed nutrients by the river Strimonas, is rich as a food source, making it a biodiversity hotspot. Situated in an area that collides with an important flyway for migratory birds, it’s the perfect spot of Dalmatian pelicans.
The Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) is the largest member of the pelican family, and perhaps the world's largest freshwater bird, although rivaled in weight and length by the largest swans. They are elegant soaring birds, with wingspans that rival that of the great albatrosses, and their flocks fly in graceful synchrony. With a range spanning across much of Central Eurasia, from the Mediterranean in the West to the Taiwan Strait in the East, and from the Persian Gulf in the South to Siberia in the North, it is a short-to-medium-distance migrant between breeding and overwintering areas.
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Poster:
Locandina:
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/coverlg_home.jpg
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/locandina.jpg
www.cinematografo.it/image-service/version/c:M2QyY2FiZTct...
www.artribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/vangelo-seco...
www.nuovodialogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vangelo-s...
.............................................................................
click to activate the small icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream (it means the monitor);
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
………………………………………………………………………
I propose here, on Flickr, a photographic story, with descriptive text, of a traditional Sicilian popular festival that is always highly anticipated, it takes place in the town of Fiumedinisi (Messina), in the last 18 years what is called the "Great Feast" has been celebrated only 3 times, always on the second Sunday of August, it was celebrated in 2007, in 2016, this year 2025, in all three editions I took photographs, those that I now present are almost all of the "Great Feast" of this year 2025. The town of Fiumedinisi is inextricably linked to her patron saint, Our Lady of the Annunciation, every year a traditional procession is held on March 24th and 25th, on the 24th the procession is made by the faithful on their knees, they carry a large lit candle with which they help themselves to support themselves, it takes place along a straight path in what is called "street of float" (it joins two churches), the next day there is another traditional procession, the two "Sacred Float," that of the Our Lady of the Annunciation and that of the Archangel Gabriel, are carried on the shoulders, followed by the faithful, through the narrow streets of the town. Then comes the "Great Feast" in August, also linked to the Annunciation, which occurs every year after many years. It is on Christmas Eve that it is announced whether that year will be the year of the Great Feast. At Christmas, "the Son of Man" is born, incarnated in Mary's womb. It is the Archangel Gabriel who announces to Mary the conception of the Son of the Most High. The iconography of the Sacred Representations depicts him kneeling before her, offering her a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The "Great Feast" in August has ancient origins dating back to the 16th century, the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. It was initially celebrated on March 25th, the religious feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it was moved to August to allow the many emigrants from all over the world to attend. In short, the "Great Feast" includes a "morning procession" led by three young men who will impersonate the three main characters on the "living float"—the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the Eternal Father. Around 11:00 a.m., the "Great Living Float," a very heavy object carried on shoulders, will make its first journey along the "street of float" (the one traveled on one's knees in March, but also on the eve of the Great Feast) with the barefoot bearers in ordinary clothing. In the afternoon, many boys and girls dressed as angels take their places on special seats on the "Great Living Float", the "three characters" (the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the "Eternal Father" at the top) take their places. Now the Great Float will make the same journey in reverse, carried on the shoulders of devotee-bearers dressed entirely in white, barefoot, thus arriving in the square in front of the church-sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS Annunziata. Once the journey has finished and the Float has been placed on the ground, the ceremony includes, and ends, with an ancient dialect song sung by the children, with microphones, who dress up as Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. A curiosity, this "Great Float", an enormous metal and wood structure, extremely heavy, requires perfect coordination between the bearers. It is essential to raise and lower it in perfect synchrony, with all its "inhabitants" atop it. It is therefore crucial to avoid any oscillations that would be transmitted to the children seated at various heights, and to the Eternal Father, seated very high up. The moments preceding the float's departure, and those following its arrival, are of great concentration, silence is absolute, the launch occurs at the third blow of the hammer, all the devotee-bearers rise in perfect synchrony and "the magic comes to life"...! The Great Machine travels the "street of float" upon its arrival, there is maximum silence, and at the third blow of the hammer the devotee-bearers lower themselves, placing the incredible Living Float on the ground, renewing before our eyes an event of beauty and absolute wonder, the unique magic of an ancient Sicilian feast tradition.
…………………………………
Propongo qui, su Flickr, un racconto fotografico, con testo descrittivo, di una festa tradizionale popolare siciliana sempre molto attesa, si svolge nel paese di Fiumedinisi (Messina), negli ultimi 18 anni quella che è chiamata la “Festa Grande” si è celebrata solo 3 volte, sempre la seconda domenica di agosto, è stata celebrata nel 2007, nel 2016, quest’anno 2025, in tutte e tre le edizioni ho realizzato fotografie, quelle che ora presento sono quasi tutte della “Festa Grande” di quest’anno 2025. Il paese di Fiumedinisi è indissolubilmente legato alla sua santa patrona, Maria SS. Annunziata, ogni anno si tiene una tradizionale processione il 24 e 25 marzo, il 24 la processione viene fatta dai fedeli in ginocchio, essi recano una grossa candela accesa con la quale si aiutano nel sostenersi, si svolge lungo un percorso rettilineo in quella che è chiamata “strada vara” (unisce due chiese), il giorno dopo si ha un’altra processione, classica, le due “Sacre Vare”, quella di Maria SS. Annunziata e quella dell’Arcangelo Gabriele, vengono portate in spalla, seguite dai fedeli, nelle stradine del paese; poi la “Festa Grande” di agosto, legata anch’essa all’Annunciazione, che avviene ogni volta dopo molti anni: è la notte di Natale che si annuncia se quello sarà l’anno della Festa Grande, a Natale nasce “il Figlio dell’Uomo” incarnatosi nel ventre materno di Maria, è l’Arcangelo Gabriele che annuncia a Maria il concepimento del Figlio dell’Altissimo, l’iconografia delle Sacre Rappresentazioni lo raffigura inginocchiarsi al cospetto di Lei porgendole un giglio, simbolo della purezza di Maria. La “Festa Grande” di agosto ha origini antiche che risalgono al XVI secolo, periodo della dominazione spagnola in Sicilia, essa inizialmente veniva celebrata il 25 marzo, con la ricorrenza religiosa dell’Annunciazione del Signore, successivamente verso la fine del XIX secolo venne spostata ad agosto, per consentire ai molti emigrati, provenienti da ogni dove, di potervi assistere. In maniera sintetica, la “Festa Grande” prevede una “processione mattutina” con in testa i tre ragazzi che impersoneranno sulla “vara vivente” i tre principali personaggi, la Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele ed il Padre Eterno; verso le ore 11:00 la “Grande Vara Vivente”, pesantissima, portata in spalla farà un primo viaggio lungo la “strada vara” (quella che viene percorsa in ginocchio a marzo, ma anche la vigilia della Festa Grande) con i portatori scalzi, in abiti comuni; il pomeriggio sulla “Grande Vara Vivente” prendono posto su appositi seggiolini tanti bimbi e bimbe, vestiti da angeli, prendono posto i “tre personaggi” (Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele, in alto prende posto il “Padre Eterno”), adesso la Grande Vara farà lo stesso percorso inverso, portata sulle spalle dei devoti-portatori vestiti completamente di bianco, scalzi, così giungendo nella piazza davanti la chiesa-santuario dedicata a Maria SS Annunziata, terminato il percorso e deposta a terra la vara, la cerimonia prevede, e termina, con un antico canto dialettale intonato dai ragazzi, microfonati, che vestono i panni di Maria e dell’Arcangelo Gabriele. Una “curiosità”, questa “Vara Ranni” (dialettalmente, Vara Grande), enorme struttura in metallo e legno, pesantissima, necessita di una perfetta coordinazione tra i portatori, è fondamentale alzarla ed abbassarla in perfetto sincronismo, con sopra tutti i suoi “abitanti”, importantissimo quindi evitare qualsiasi oscillazione che si trasmetterebbe sui bimbi seduti a varie altezze, ed al Padre Eterno, seduto molto in alto: gli attimi che precedono la partenza della vara, e quelli che fanno seguito all’arrivo sono di grande concentrazione, il silenzio è massimo, la partenza avviene al terzo colpo di martello, tutti i devoti-portatori si alzano in perfetta sincronia e “la magia prende vita”…! La Grande Macchina percorre la “strada vara”, al suo arrivo, silenzio massimo, al terzo colpo di martello i devoti-portatori si abbassano deponendo a terra quella incredibile Vara Vivente che rinnova davanti ai nostri occhi un evento fatto di bellezza ed assoluta meraviglia, magia unica di una antica tradizione popolare Siciliana.
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Great Tit - Parus Major
The great tit (Parus major) is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common species throughout Europe, the Middle East, Central and Northern Asia, and parts of North Africa where it is generally resident in any sort of woodland; most great tits do not migrate except in extremely harsh winters. Until 2005 this species was lumped with numerous other subspecies. DNA studies have shown these other subspecies to be distinctive from the great tit and these have now been separated as two distinct species, the cinereous tit of southern Asia, and the Japanese tit of East Asia. The great tit remains the most widespread species in the genus Parus.
The great tit has a wide distribution across much of Eurasia. It is found across all of Europe except for Iceland and northern Scandinavia, including numerous Mediterranean islands. In North Africa it is found in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. It also occurs across the Middle East, and parts of central Asia from northern Iran and Afghanistan to Mongolia, as well as across northern Asia from the Urals as far east as northern China and the Amur Valley.
The great tit is generally not migratory. Pairs will usually remain near or in their territory year round, even in northern parts of their range. Young birds will disperse from their parents' territory, but usually not far. Populations may become irruptive in poor or harsh winters, meaning that groups of up to a thousand birds may unpredictably move from northern Europe to the Baltic, the Netherlands, Britain and even as far as the southern Balkans.
The great tit is generally not migratory. Pairs will usually remain near or in their territory year round, even in northern parts of their range. Young birds will disperse from their parents' territory, but usually not far. Populations may become irruptive in poor or harsh winters, meaning that groups of up to a thousand birds may unpredictably move from northern Europe to the Baltic, the Netherlands, Britain and even as far as the southern Balkans.
The Eurasian sparrowhawk is a predator of great tits, with the young from second broods being at higher risk partly because of the hawk's greater need for food for its own developing young. The nests of great tits are raided by great spotted woodpeckers, particularly when nesting in certain types of nest boxes. Other nest predators include introduced grey squirrels (in Britain) and least weasels, which are able to take nesting adults as well.
Great tits compete with pied flycatchers for nesting boxes, and can kill prospecting flycatcher males. Incidences of fatal competition are more frequent when nesting times overlap, and climate change has led to greater synchrony of nesting between the two species and flycatcher deaths. Having killed the flycatchers, the great tits may consume their brains.
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Poster:
Locandina:
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/coverlg_home.jpg
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/locandina.jpg
www.cinematografo.it/image-service/version/c:M2QyY2FiZTct...
www.artribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/vangelo-seco...
www.nuovodialogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vangelo-s...
.............................................................................
click to activate the small icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream (it means the monitor);
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
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I propose here, on Flickr, a photographic story, with descriptive text, of a traditional Sicilian popular festival that is always highly anticipated, it takes place in the town of Fiumedinisi (Messina), in the last 18 years what is called the "Great Feast" has been celebrated only 3 times, always on the second Sunday of August, it was celebrated in 2007, in 2016, this year 2025, in all three editions I took photographs, those that I now present are almost all of the "Great Feast" of this year 2025. The town of Fiumedinisi is inextricably linked to her patron saint, Our Lady of the Annunciation, every year a traditional procession is held on March 24th and 25th, on the 24th the procession is made by the faithful on their knees, they carry a large lit candle with which they help themselves to support themselves, it takes place along a straight path in what is called "street of float" (it joins two churches), the next day there is another traditional procession, the two "Sacred Float," that of the Our Lady of the Annunciation and that of the Archangel Gabriel, are carried on the shoulders, followed by the faithful, through the narrow streets of the town. Then comes the "Great Feast" in August, also linked to the Annunciation, which occurs every year after many years. It is on Christmas Eve that it is announced whether that year will be the year of the Great Feast. At Christmas, "the Son of Man" is born, incarnated in Mary's womb. It is the Archangel Gabriel who announces to Mary the conception of the Son of the Most High. The iconography of the Sacred Representations depicts him kneeling before her, offering her a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The "Great Feast" in August has ancient origins dating back to the 16th century, the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. It was initially celebrated on March 25th, the religious feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it was moved to August to allow the many emigrants from all over the world to attend. In short, the "Great Feast" includes a "morning procession" led by three young men who will impersonate the three main characters on the "living float"—the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the Eternal Father. Around 11:00 a.m., the "Great Living Float," a very heavy object carried on shoulders, will make its first journey along the "street of float" (the one traveled on one's knees in March, but also on the eve of the Great Feast) with the barefoot bearers in ordinary clothing. In the afternoon, many boys and girls dressed as angels take their places on special seats on the "Great Living Float", the "three characters" (the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the "Eternal Father" at the top) take their places. Now the Great Float will make the same journey in reverse, carried on the shoulders of devotee-bearers dressed entirely in white, barefoot, thus arriving in the square in front of the church-sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS Annunziata. Once the journey has finished and the Float has been placed on the ground, the ceremony includes, and ends, with an ancient dialect song sung by the children, with microphones, who dress up as Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. A curiosity, this "Great Float", an enormous metal and wood structure, extremely heavy, requires perfect coordination between the bearers. It is essential to raise and lower it in perfect synchrony, with all its "inhabitants" atop it. It is therefore crucial to avoid any oscillations that would be transmitted to the children seated at various heights, and to the Eternal Father, seated very high up. The moments preceding the float's departure, and those following its arrival, are of great concentration, silence is absolute, the launch occurs at the third blow of the hammer, all the devotee-bearers rise in perfect synchrony and "the magic comes to life"...! The Great Machine travels the "street of float" upon its arrival, there is maximum silence, and at the third blow of the hammer the devotee-bearers lower themselves, placing the incredible Living Float on the ground, renewing before our eyes an event of beauty and absolute wonder, the unique magic of an ancient Sicilian feast tradition.
…………………………………
Propongo qui, su Flickr, un racconto fotografico, con testo descrittivo, di una festa tradizionale popolare siciliana sempre molto attesa, si svolge nel paese di Fiumedinisi (Messina), negli ultimi 18 anni quella che è chiamata la “Festa Grande” si è celebrata solo 3 volte, sempre la seconda domenica di agosto, è stata celebrata nel 2007, nel 2016, quest’anno 2025, in tutte e tre le edizioni ho realizzato fotografie, quelle che ora presento sono quasi tutte della “Festa Grande” di quest’anno 2025. Il paese di Fiumedinisi è indissolubilmente legato alla sua santa patrona, Maria SS. Annunziata, ogni anno si tiene una tradizionale processione il 24 e 25 marzo, il 24 la processione viene fatta dai fedeli in ginocchio, essi recano una grossa candela accesa con la quale si aiutano nel sostenersi, si svolge lungo un percorso rettilineo in quella che è chiamata “strada vara” (unisce due chiese), il giorno dopo si ha un’altra processione, classica, le due “Sacre Vare”, quella di Maria SS. Annunziata e quella dell’Arcangelo Gabriele, vengono portate in spalla, seguite dai fedeli, nelle stradine del paese; poi la “Festa Grande” di agosto, legata anch’essa all’Annunciazione, che avviene ogni volta dopo molti anni: è la notte di Natale che si annuncia se quello sarà l’anno della Festa Grande, a Natale nasce “il Figlio dell’Uomo” incarnatosi nel ventre materno di Maria, è l’Arcangelo Gabriele che annuncia a Maria il concepimento del Figlio dell’Altissimo, l’iconografia delle Sacre Rappresentazioni lo raffigura inginocchiarsi al cospetto di Lei porgendole un giglio, simbolo della purezza di Maria. La “Festa Grande” di agosto ha origini antiche che risalgono al XVI secolo, periodo della dominazione spagnola in Sicilia, essa inizialmente veniva celebrata il 25 marzo, con la ricorrenza religiosa dell’Annunciazione del Signore, successivamente verso la fine del XIX secolo venne spostata ad agosto, per consentire ai molti emigrati, provenienti da ogni dove, di potervi assistere. In maniera sintetica, la “Festa Grande” prevede una “processione mattutina” con in testa i tre ragazzi che impersoneranno sulla “vara vivente” i tre principali personaggi, la Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele ed il Padre Eterno; verso le ore 11:00 la “Grande Vara Vivente”, pesantissima, portata in spalla farà un primo viaggio lungo la “strada vara” (quella che viene percorsa in ginocchio a marzo, ma anche la vigilia della Festa Grande) con i portatori scalzi, in abiti comuni; il pomeriggio sulla “Grande Vara Vivente” prendono posto su appositi seggiolini tanti bimbi e bimbe, vestiti da angeli, prendono posto i “tre personaggi” (Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele, in alto prende posto il “Padre Eterno”), adesso la Grande Vara farà lo stesso percorso inverso, portata sulle spalle dei devoti-portatori vestiti completamente di bianco, scalzi, così giungendo nella piazza davanti la chiesa-santuario dedicata a Maria SS Annunziata, terminato il percorso e deposta a terra la vara, la cerimonia prevede, e termina, con un antico canto dialettale intonato dai ragazzi, microfonati, che vestono i panni di Maria e dell’Arcangelo Gabriele. Una “curiosità”, questa “Vara Ranni” (dialettalmente, Vara Grande), enorme struttura in metallo e legno, pesantissima, necessita di una perfetta coordinazione tra i portatori, è fondamentale alzarla ed abbassarla in perfetto sincronismo, con sopra tutti i suoi “abitanti”, importantissimo quindi evitare qualsiasi oscillazione che si trasmetterebbe sui bimbi seduti a varie altezze, ed al Padre Eterno, seduto molto in alto: gli attimi che precedono la partenza della vara, e quelli che fanno seguito all’arrivo sono di grande concentrazione, il silenzio è massimo, la partenza avviene al terzo colpo di martello, tutti i devoti-portatori si alzano in perfetta sincronia e “la magia prende vita”…! La Grande Macchina percorre la “strada vara”, al suo arrivo, silenzio massimo, al terzo colpo di martello i devoti-portatori si abbassano deponendo a terra quella incredibile Vara Vivente che rinnova davanti ai nostri occhi un evento fatto di bellezza ed assoluta meraviglia, magia unica di una antica tradizione popolare Siciliana.
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under harrod´s canopy, a man walks toward the light. beside him, his other self does the same. they move in perfect synchrony, these two versions of one life. the city does this sometimes - shows you yourself from the outside, walking away from where you've been, becoming someone you don't recognize. the pole between them is thin as a decision. one step left. one step right. two different futures. they don't look back. they never do.
Lesser Sandhill Cranes, Antigone canadensis,
Merced National Wildlife Refuge, California
We watched four birds close to the roadway in late afternoon two days in a row. Here two of the four struck a pose.
When I looked closely at the photo I realized the bird at right has a darker eye and I compared other photos taken just before/after to ensure that it wasn't just an artifact of lighting in this photo. It wasn't. So it is a subadult. I also detect slightly less red on its forehead than the other three had. From a distance, it appears quite like an adult.
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Poster:
Locandina:
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/coverlg_home.jpg
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/locandina.jpg
www.cinematografo.it/image-service/version/c:M2QyY2FiZTct...
www.artribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/vangelo-seco...
www.nuovodialogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vangelo-s...
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click to activate the small icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream (it means the monitor);
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
………………………………………………………………………
I propose here, on Flickr, a photographic story, with descriptive text, of a traditional Sicilian popular festival that is always highly anticipated, it takes place in the town of Fiumedinisi (Messina), in the last 18 years what is called the "Great Feast" has been celebrated only 3 times, always on the second Sunday of August, it was celebrated in 2007, in 2016, this year 2025, in all three editions I took photographs, those that I now present are almost all of the "Great Feast" of this year 2025. The town of Fiumedinisi is inextricably linked to her patron saint, Our Lady of the Annunciation, every year a traditional procession is held on March 24th and 25th, on the 24th the procession is made by the faithful on their knees, they carry a large lit candle with which they help themselves to support themselves, it takes place along a straight path in what is called "street of float" (it joins two churches), the next day there is another traditional procession, the two "Sacred Float," that of the Our Lady of the Annunciation and that of the Archangel Gabriel, are carried on the shoulders, followed by the faithful, through the narrow streets of the town. Then comes the "Great Feast" in August, also linked to the Annunciation, which occurs every year after many years. It is on Christmas Eve that it is announced whether that year will be the year of the Great Feast. At Christmas, "the Son of Man" is born, incarnated in Mary's womb. It is the Archangel Gabriel who announces to Mary the conception of the Son of the Most High. The iconography of the Sacred Representations depicts him kneeling before her, offering her a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The "Great Feast" in August has ancient origins dating back to the 16th century, the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. It was initially celebrated on March 25th, the religious feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it was moved to August to allow the many emigrants from all over the world to attend. In short, the "Great Feast" includes a "morning procession" led by three young men who will impersonate the three main characters on the "living float"—the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the Eternal Father. Around 11:00 a.m., the "Great Living Float," a very heavy object carried on shoulders, will make its first journey along the "street of float" (the one traveled on one's knees in March, but also on the eve of the Great Feast) with the barefoot bearers in ordinary clothing. In the afternoon, many boys and girls dressed as angels take their places on special seats on the "Great Living Float", the "three characters" (the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the "Eternal Father" at the top) take their places. Now the Great Float will make the same journey in reverse, carried on the shoulders of devotee-bearers dressed entirely in white, barefoot, thus arriving in the square in front of the church-sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS Annunziata. Once the journey has finished and the Float has been placed on the ground, the ceremony includes, and ends, with an ancient dialect song sung by the children, with microphones, who dress up as Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. A curiosity, this "Great Float", an enormous metal and wood structure, extremely heavy, requires perfect coordination between the bearers. It is essential to raise and lower it in perfect synchrony, with all its "inhabitants" atop it. It is therefore crucial to avoid any oscillations that would be transmitted to the children seated at various heights, and to the Eternal Father, seated very high up. The moments preceding the float's departure, and those following its arrival, are of great concentration, silence is absolute, the launch occurs at the third blow of the hammer, all the devotee-bearers rise in perfect synchrony and "the magic comes to life"...! The Great Machine travels the "street of float" upon its arrival, there is maximum silence, and at the third blow of the hammer the devotee-bearers lower themselves, placing the incredible Living Float on the ground, renewing before our eyes an event of beauty and absolute wonder, the unique magic of an ancient Sicilian feast tradition.
…………………………………
Propongo qui, su Flickr, un racconto fotografico, con testo descrittivo, di una festa tradizionale popolare siciliana sempre molto attesa, si svolge nel paese di Fiumedinisi (Messina), negli ultimi 18 anni quella che è chiamata la “Festa Grande” si è celebrata solo 3 volte, sempre la seconda domenica di agosto, è stata celebrata nel 2007, nel 2016, quest’anno 2025, in tutte e tre le edizioni ho realizzato fotografie, quelle che ora presento sono quasi tutte della “Festa Grande” di quest’anno 2025. Il paese di Fiumedinisi è indissolubilmente legato alla sua santa patrona, Maria SS. Annunziata, ogni anno si tiene una tradizionale processione il 24 e 25 marzo, il 24 la processione viene fatta dai fedeli in ginocchio, essi recano una grossa candela accesa con la quale si aiutano nel sostenersi, si svolge lungo un percorso rettilineo in quella che è chiamata “strada vara” (unisce due chiese), il giorno dopo si ha un’altra processione, classica, le due “Sacre Vare”, quella di Maria SS. Annunziata e quella dell’Arcangelo Gabriele, vengono portate in spalla, seguite dai fedeli, nelle stradine del paese; poi la “Festa Grande” di agosto, legata anch’essa all’Annunciazione, che avviene ogni volta dopo molti anni: è la notte di Natale che si annuncia se quello sarà l’anno della Festa Grande, a Natale nasce “il Figlio dell’Uomo” incarnatosi nel ventre materno di Maria, è l’Arcangelo Gabriele che annuncia a Maria il concepimento del Figlio dell’Altissimo, l’iconografia delle Sacre Rappresentazioni lo raffigura inginocchiarsi al cospetto di Lei porgendole un giglio, simbolo della purezza di Maria. La “Festa Grande” di agosto ha origini antiche che risalgono al XVI secolo, periodo della dominazione spagnola in Sicilia, essa inizialmente veniva celebrata il 25 marzo, con la ricorrenza religiosa dell’Annunciazione del Signore, successivamente verso la fine del XIX secolo venne spostata ad agosto, per consentire ai molti emigrati, provenienti da ogni dove, di potervi assistere. In maniera sintetica, la “Festa Grande” prevede una “processione mattutina” con in testa i tre ragazzi che impersoneranno sulla “vara vivente” i tre principali personaggi, la Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele ed il Padre Eterno; verso le ore 11:00 la “Grande Vara Vivente”, pesantissima, portata in spalla farà un primo viaggio lungo la “strada vara” (quella che viene percorsa in ginocchio a marzo, ma anche la vigilia della Festa Grande) con i portatori scalzi, in abiti comuni; il pomeriggio sulla “Grande Vara Vivente” prendono posto su appositi seggiolini tanti bimbi e bimbe, vestiti da angeli, prendono posto i “tre personaggi” (Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele, in alto prende posto il “Padre Eterno”), adesso la Grande Vara farà lo stesso percorso inverso, portata sulle spalle dei devoti-portatori vestiti completamente di bianco, scalzi, così giungendo nella piazza davanti la chiesa-santuario dedicata a Maria SS Annunziata, terminato il percorso e deposta a terra la vara, la cerimonia prevede, e termina, con un antico canto dialettale intonato dai ragazzi, microfonati, che vestono i panni di Maria e dell’Arcangelo Gabriele. Una “curiosità”, questa “Vara Ranni” (dialettalmente, Vara Grande), enorme struttura in metallo e legno, pesantissima, necessita di una perfetta coordinazione tra i portatori, è fondamentale alzarla ed abbassarla in perfetto sincronismo, con sopra tutti i suoi “abitanti”, importantissimo quindi evitare qualsiasi oscillazione che si trasmetterebbe sui bimbi seduti a varie altezze, ed al Padre Eterno, seduto molto in alto: gli attimi che precedono la partenza della vara, e quelli che fanno seguito all’arrivo sono di grande concentrazione, il silenzio è massimo, la partenza avviene al terzo colpo di martello, tutti i devoti-portatori si alzano in perfetta sincronia e “la magia prende vita”…! La Grande Macchina percorre la “strada vara”, al suo arrivo, silenzio massimo, al terzo colpo di martello i devoti-portatori si abbassano deponendo a terra quella incredibile Vara Vivente che rinnova davanti ai nostri occhi un evento fatto di bellezza ed assoluta meraviglia, magia unica di una antica tradizione popolare Siciliana.
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Synchrony - Black-necked Stilt with baby. I don't photograph shorebirds too often these days, but enjoy practicing on them ever so often to get my mind thinking about angles/lighting.
Species: Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
Location: Santa Clara County, CA, USA
Equipment: Canon EOS R5 + RF 100-500mm IS
Settings: 1/1600s, ISO: 250, f/8 @500mm, Handheld, Electronic Shutter
Often seen in the backyard, this bird is a resident or partially migratory species found in wooded habitats in India and Southeast Asia. Like most Starlings, the Chestnut-tailed Starling is fairly omnivorous, eating fruit, nectar and insects. They fly in tight flocks and often rapidly change directions with great synchrony.
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Poster:
Locandina:
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/coverlg_home.jpg
pad.mymovies.it/filmclub/2022/09/120/locandina.jpg
www.cinematografo.it/image-service/version/c:M2QyY2FiZTct...
www.artribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/vangelo-seco...
www.nuovodialogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vangelo-s...
.............................................................................
click to activate the small icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream (it means the monitor);
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
………………………………………………………………………
I propose here, on Flickr, a photographic story, with descriptive text, of a traditional Sicilian popular festival that is always highly anticipated, it takes place in the town of Fiumedinisi (Messina), in the last 18 years what is called the "Great Feast" has been celebrated only 3 times, always on the second Sunday of August, it was celebrated in 2007, in 2016, this year 2025, in all three editions I took photographs, those that I now present are almost all of the "Great Feast" of this year 2025. The town of Fiumedinisi is inextricably linked to her patron saint, Our Lady of the Annunciation, every year a traditional procession is held on March 24th and 25th, on the 24th the procession is made by the faithful on their knees, they carry a large lit candle with which they help themselves to support themselves, it takes place along a straight path in what is called "street of float" (it joins two churches), the next day there is another traditional procession, the two "Sacred Float," that of the Our Lady of the Annunciation and that of the Archangel Gabriel, are carried on the shoulders, followed by the faithful, through the narrow streets of the town. Then comes the "Great Feast" in August, also linked to the Annunciation, which occurs every year after many years. It is on Christmas Eve that it is announced whether that year will be the year of the Great Feast. At Christmas, "the Son of Man" is born, incarnated in Mary's womb. It is the Archangel Gabriel who announces to Mary the conception of the Son of the Most High. The iconography of the Sacred Representations depicts him kneeling before her, offering her a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The "Great Feast" in August has ancient origins dating back to the 16th century, the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. It was initially celebrated on March 25th, the religious feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it was moved to August to allow the many emigrants from all over the world to attend. In short, the "Great Feast" includes a "morning procession" led by three young men who will impersonate the three main characters on the "living float"—the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the Eternal Father. Around 11:00 a.m., the "Great Living Float," a very heavy object carried on shoulders, will make its first journey along the "street of float" (the one traveled on one's knees in March, but also on the eve of the Great Feast) with the barefoot bearers in ordinary clothing. In the afternoon, many boys and girls dressed as angels take their places on special seats on the "Great Living Float", the "three characters" (the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the "Eternal Father" at the top) take their places. Now the Great Float will make the same journey in reverse, carried on the shoulders of devotee-bearers dressed entirely in white, barefoot, thus arriving in the square in front of the church-sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS Annunziata. Once the journey has finished and the Float has been placed on the ground, the ceremony includes, and ends, with an ancient dialect song sung by the children, with microphones, who dress up as Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. A curiosity, this "Great Float", an enormous metal and wood structure, extremely heavy, requires perfect coordination between the bearers. It is essential to raise and lower it in perfect synchrony, with all its "inhabitants" atop it. It is therefore crucial to avoid any oscillations that would be transmitted to the children seated at various heights, and to the Eternal Father, seated very high up. The moments preceding the float's departure, and those following its arrival, are of great concentration, silence is absolute, the launch occurs at the third blow of the hammer, all the devotee-bearers rise in perfect synchrony and "the magic comes to life"...! The Great Machine travels the "street of float" upon its arrival, there is maximum silence, and at the third blow of the hammer the devotee-bearers lower themselves, placing the incredible Living Float on the ground, renewing before our eyes an event of beauty and absolute wonder, the unique magic of an ancient Sicilian feast tradition.
…………………………………
Propongo qui, su Flickr, un racconto fotografico, con testo descrittivo, di una festa tradizionale popolare siciliana sempre molto attesa, si svolge nel paese di Fiumedinisi (Messina), negli ultimi 18 anni quella che è chiamata la “Festa Grande” si è celebrata solo 3 volte, sempre la seconda domenica di agosto, è stata celebrata nel 2007, nel 2016, quest’anno 2025, in tutte e tre le edizioni ho realizzato fotografie, quelle che ora presento sono quasi tutte della “Festa Grande” di quest’anno 2025. Il paese di Fiumedinisi è indissolubilmente legato alla sua santa patrona, Maria SS. Annunziata, ogni anno si tiene una tradizionale processione il 24 e 25 marzo, il 24 la processione viene fatta dai fedeli in ginocchio, essi recano una grossa candela accesa con la quale si aiutano nel sostenersi, si svolge lungo un percorso rettilineo in quella che è chiamata “strada vara” (unisce due chiese), il giorno dopo si ha un’altra processione, classica, le due “Sacre Vare”, quella di Maria SS. Annunziata e quella dell’Arcangelo Gabriele, vengono portate in spalla, seguite dai fedeli, nelle stradine del paese; poi la “Festa Grande” di agosto, legata anch’essa all’Annunciazione, che avviene ogni volta dopo molti anni: è la notte di Natale che si annuncia se quello sarà l’anno della Festa Grande, a Natale nasce “il Figlio dell’Uomo” incarnatosi nel ventre materno di Maria, è l’Arcangelo Gabriele che annuncia a Maria il concepimento del Figlio dell’Altissimo, l’iconografia delle Sacre Rappresentazioni lo raffigura inginocchiarsi al cospetto di Lei porgendole un giglio, simbolo della purezza di Maria. La “Festa Grande” di agosto ha origini antiche che risalgono al XVI secolo, periodo della dominazione spagnola in Sicilia, essa inizialmente veniva celebrata il 25 marzo, con la ricorrenza religiosa dell’Annunciazione del Signore, successivamente verso la fine del XIX secolo venne spostata ad agosto, per consentire ai molti emigrati, provenienti da ogni dove, di potervi assistere. In maniera sintetica, la “Festa Grande” prevede una “processione mattutina” con in testa i tre ragazzi che impersoneranno sulla “vara vivente” i tre principali personaggi, la Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele ed il Padre Eterno; verso le ore 11:00 la “Grande Vara Vivente”, pesantissima, portata in spalla farà un primo viaggio lungo la “strada vara” (quella che viene percorsa in ginocchio a marzo, ma anche la vigilia della Festa Grande) con i portatori scalzi, in abiti comuni; il pomeriggio sulla “Grande Vara Vivente” prendono posto su appositi seggiolini tanti bimbi e bimbe, vestiti da angeli, prendono posto i “tre personaggi” (Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele, in alto prende posto il “Padre Eterno”), adesso la Grande Vara farà lo stesso percorso inverso, portata sulle spalle dei devoti-portatori vestiti completamente di bianco, scalzi, così giungendo nella piazza davanti la chiesa-santuario dedicata a Maria SS Annunziata, terminato il percorso e deposta a terra la vara, la cerimonia prevede, e termina, con un antico canto dialettale intonato dai ragazzi, microfonati, che vestono i panni di Maria e dell’Arcangelo Gabriele. Una “curiosità”, questa “Vara Ranni” (dialettalmente, Vara Grande), enorme struttura in metallo e legno, pesantissima, necessita di una perfetta coordinazione tra i portatori, è fondamentale alzarla ed abbassarla in perfetto sincronismo, con sopra tutti i suoi “abitanti”, importantissimo quindi evitare qualsiasi oscillazione che si trasmetterebbe sui bimbi seduti a varie altezze, ed al Padre Eterno, seduto molto in alto: gli attimi che precedono la partenza della vara, e quelli che fanno seguito all’arrivo sono di grande concentrazione, il silenzio è massimo, la partenza avviene al terzo colpo di martello, tutti i devoti-portatori si alzano in perfetta sincronia e “la magia prende vita”…! La Grande Macchina percorre la “strada vara”, al suo arrivo, silenzio massimo, al terzo colpo di martello i devoti-portatori si abbassano deponendo a terra quella incredibile Vara Vivente che rinnova davanti ai nostri occhi un evento fatto di bellezza ed assoluta meraviglia, magia unica di una antica tradizione popolare Siciliana.
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The Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) is the largest member of the pelican family, and perhaps the world's largest freshwater bird, although rivaled in weight and length by the largest swans. They are elegant soaring birds, with wingspans rivaling those of the great albatrosses, and their flocks fly in graceful synchrony. With a range spanning across much of Central Eurasia, from the Mediterranean in the West to the Taiwan Strait in the East, and from the Persian Gulf in the South to Siberia in the North, it is a short-to-medium-distance migrant between breeding and overwintering areas. No subspecies are known to exist over its wide range, but based on size differences, a Pleistocene paleosubspecies, P. c. palaeocrispus, has been described from fossils recovered at Binagady, Azerbaijan.
This albatross has the beautiful scientific name Phoebetria palpebrata, which translates as the prophetess with eyelids. They are one of the smaller albatrosses with a wingspan of just a little over 2m, compared with the Wandering Albatross with a wingspan of up to 3.5m. You can clearly see its light mantle (back) here as it looks like it is wearing a mushroom-coloured gilet. They nest at low density on cliffs among tussock-grass, usually high up. In courtship pairs fly together in perfect synchrony, mirroring each other's twists and turns. Like many animals in the Southern Ocean they feed mainly on krill, and can dive to 5m to reach it. The global population is only about 50,000 breeding pairs and it is in steep decline. This was photographed flying around cliffs in South Georgia which is thought to hold about 5000 pairs, which is the largest population of this scarce species.
A new method of producing an ultra-bright light which breaks traditional laws of particle physics could potentially spark a technological revolution.
The ultra-bright light, a form of ‘coherent light’, is created by particles moving in synchrony rather than independently. This synchrony creates incredibly fast, intense pulses that operate on a scale of atto-seconds – or one thousandth of a millionth of a billionth of a second.
While machines that can currently create ultra-bright light are miles long, scientists have now produced plans for a light source that can fit into a single room. The discovery could create a "mini-societal, technological and scientific revolution", the researchers behind the development told BBC Science Focus.
www.sciencefocus.com/news/coherent-bright-light-technolog...
On a tranquil morning in Puerto Nariño, Colombia, I captured the elusive beauty of the White-eared Jacamar (Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis). This photograph is a culmination of the natural synchrony between light and shadow, a moment where the sun’s rays illuminated the jacamar's chestnut plumage against the backdrop of the Amazon’s rich foliage. It's these conditions that create a vivid tableau, highlighting the intricate details of the bird’s feathers and the subtleties of its habitat. The challenge was to encapsulate the jacamar’s stillness amidst the dynamic life of the jungle, requiring a balance between anticipation and the spontaneous nature of wildlife photography.
To my fellow photographers on Flickr, this image showcases the power of ambient light and composition in revealing the story of a subject. The jacamar, with its intense gaze and strikingly colored bill, stands as a vibrant sentinel in the frame. It’s a dance of patience and respect, allowing the scene to unfold naturally, with a keen eye for that decisive moment that feels both serendipitous and inevitable. This is where the art of photography lies—not just in the technical mastery, but in the ability to convey the spirit of a place and its inhabitants.
©2023 Adam Rainoff
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Poster:
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I propose here, on Flickr, a photographic story, with descriptive text, of a traditional Sicilian popular festival that is always highly anticipated, it takes place in the town of Fiumedinisi (Messina), in the last 18 years what is called the "Great Feast" has been celebrated only 3 times, always on the second Sunday of August, it was celebrated in 2007, in 2016, this year 2025, in all three editions I took photographs, those that I now present are almost all of the "Great Feast" of this year 2025. The town of Fiumedinisi is inextricably linked to her patron saint, Our Lady of the Annunciation, every year a traditional procession is held on March 24th and 25th, on the 24th the procession is made by the faithful on their knees, they carry a large lit candle with which they help themselves to support themselves, it takes place along a straight path in what is called "street of float" (it joins two churches), the next day there is another traditional procession, the two "Sacred Float," that of the Our Lady of the Annunciation and that of the Archangel Gabriel, are carried on the shoulders, followed by the faithful, through the narrow streets of the town. Then comes the "Great Feast" in August, also linked to the Annunciation, which occurs every year after many years. It is on Christmas Eve that it is announced whether that year will be the year of the Great Feast. At Christmas, "the Son of Man" is born, incarnated in Mary's womb. It is the Archangel Gabriel who announces to Mary the conception of the Son of the Most High. The iconography of the Sacred Representations depicts him kneeling before her, offering her a lily, a symbol of Mary's purity. The "Great Feast" in August has ancient origins dating back to the 16th century, the period of Spanish rule in Sicily. It was initially celebrated on March 25th, the religious feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, it was moved to August to allow the many emigrants from all over the world to attend. In short, the "Great Feast" includes a "morning procession" led by three young men who will impersonate the three main characters on the "living float"—the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the Eternal Father. Around 11:00 a.m., the "Great Living Float," a very heavy object carried on shoulders, will make its first journey along the "street of float" (the one traveled on one's knees in March, but also on the eve of the Great Feast) with the barefoot bearers in ordinary clothing. In the afternoon, many boys and girls dressed as angels take their places on special seats on the "Great Living Float", the "three characters" (the Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, and the "Eternal Father" at the top) take their places. Now the Great Float will make the same journey in reverse, carried on the shoulders of devotee-bearers dressed entirely in white, barefoot, thus arriving in the square in front of the church-sanctuary dedicated to Maria SS Annunziata. Once the journey has finished and the Float has been placed on the ground, the ceremony includes, and ends, with an ancient dialect song sung by the children, with microphones, who dress up as Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. A curiosity, this "Great Float", an enormous metal and wood structure, extremely heavy, requires perfect coordination between the bearers. It is essential to raise and lower it in perfect synchrony, with all its "inhabitants" atop it. It is therefore crucial to avoid any oscillations that would be transmitted to the children seated at various heights, and to the Eternal Father, seated very high up. The moments preceding the float's departure, and those following its arrival, are of great concentration, silence is absolute, the launch occurs at the third blow of the hammer, all the devotee-bearers rise in perfect synchrony and "the magic comes to life"...! The Great Machine travels the "street of float" upon its arrival, there is maximum silence, and at the third blow of the hammer the devotee-bearers lower themselves, placing the incredible Living Float on the ground, renewing before our eyes an event of beauty and absolute wonder, the unique magic of an ancient Sicilian feast tradition.
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Propongo qui, su Flickr, un racconto fotografico, con testo descrittivo, di una festa tradizionale popolare siciliana sempre molto attesa, si svolge nel paese di Fiumedinisi (Messina), negli ultimi 18 anni quella che è chiamata la “Festa Grande” si è celebrata solo 3 volte, sempre la seconda domenica di agosto, è stata celebrata nel 2007, nel 2016, quest’anno 2025, in tutte e tre le edizioni ho realizzato fotografie, quelle che ora presento sono quasi tutte della “Festa Grande” di quest’anno 2025. Il paese di Fiumedinisi è indissolubilmente legato alla sua santa patrona, Maria SS. Annunziata, ogni anno si tiene una tradizionale processione il 24 e 25 marzo, il 24 la processione viene fatta dai fedeli in ginocchio, essi recano una grossa candela accesa con la quale si aiutano nel sostenersi, si svolge lungo un percorso rettilineo in quella che è chiamata “strada vara” (unisce due chiese), il giorno dopo si ha un’altra processione, classica, le due “Sacre Vare”, quella di Maria SS. Annunziata e quella dell’Arcangelo Gabriele, vengono portate in spalla, seguite dai fedeli, nelle stradine del paese; poi la “Festa Grande” di agosto, legata anch’essa all’Annunciazione, che avviene ogni volta dopo molti anni: è la notte di Natale che si annuncia se quello sarà l’anno della Festa Grande, a Natale nasce “il Figlio dell’Uomo” incarnatosi nel ventre materno di Maria, è l’Arcangelo Gabriele che annuncia a Maria il concepimento del Figlio dell’Altissimo, l’iconografia delle Sacre Rappresentazioni lo raffigura inginocchiarsi al cospetto di Lei porgendole un giglio, simbolo della purezza di Maria. La “Festa Grande” di agosto ha origini antiche che risalgono al XVI secolo, periodo della dominazione spagnola in Sicilia, essa inizialmente veniva celebrata il 25 marzo, con la ricorrenza religiosa dell’Annunciazione del Signore, successivamente verso la fine del XIX secolo venne spostata ad agosto, per consentire ai molti emigrati, provenienti da ogni dove, di potervi assistere. In maniera sintetica, la “Festa Grande” prevede una “processione mattutina” con in testa i tre ragazzi che impersoneranno sulla “vara vivente” i tre principali personaggi, la Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele ed il Padre Eterno; verso le ore 11:00 la “Grande Vara Vivente”, pesantissima, portata in spalla farà un primo viaggio lungo la “strada vara” (quella che viene percorsa in ginocchio a marzo, ma anche la vigilia della Festa Grande) con i portatori scalzi, in abiti comuni; il pomeriggio sulla “Grande Vara Vivente” prendono posto su appositi seggiolini tanti bimbi e bimbe, vestiti da angeli, prendono posto i “tre personaggi” (Maria, l’Arcangelo Gabriele, in alto prende posto il “Padre Eterno”), adesso la Grande Vara farà lo stesso percorso inverso, portata sulle spalle dei devoti-portatori vestiti completamente di bianco, scalzi, così giungendo nella piazza davanti la chiesa-santuario dedicata a Maria SS Annunziata, terminato il percorso e deposta a terra la vara, la cerimonia prevede, e termina, con un antico canto dialettale intonato dai ragazzi, microfonati, che vestono i panni di Maria e dell’Arcangelo Gabriele. Una “curiosità”, questa “Vara Ranni” (dialettalmente, Vara Grande), enorme struttura in metallo e legno, pesantissima, necessita di una perfetta coordinazione tra i portatori, è fondamentale alzarla ed abbassarla in perfetto sincronismo, con sopra tutti i suoi “abitanti”, importantissimo quindi evitare qualsiasi oscillazione che si trasmetterebbe sui bimbi seduti a varie altezze, ed al Padre Eterno, seduto molto in alto: gli attimi che precedono la partenza della vara, e quelli che fanno seguito all’arrivo sono di grande concentrazione, il silenzio è massimo, la partenza avviene al terzo colpo di martello, tutti i devoti-portatori si alzano in perfetta sincronia e “la magia prende vita”…! La Grande Macchina percorre la “strada vara”, al suo arrivo, silenzio massimo, al terzo colpo di martello i devoti-portatori si abbassano deponendo a terra quella incredibile Vara Vivente che rinnova davanti ai nostri occhi un evento fatto di bellezza ed assoluta meraviglia, magia unica di una antica tradizione popolare Siciliana.
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