Exquisite World of Nature (P1/A2) [theme: 100% Nature]
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This is Mumsy and her five babies who are now almost as big as she is. We are so happy to see all five are still alive and doing so well which is a testament to how well she takes care of them. She's a strict mum and enforces her rules which no doubt has kept them all alive and thriving. That little one in the front with the blonde tail is the scamp of the group. They usually arrive at dusk when the light has faded which presents a challenge to get a crisp and clear shot of them but I keep trying.
We are pretty sure Mumsy is the offspring of Mama who has her own album. She invites you to stop by and visit her photos.
A testament to history I actually shot this in colour and was pretty pleased with it. However i decided to change it to black & white as I felt it reflected the drama and the beauty of the scene better. This is the main part left of old abbey in the town of Kilwinning, Scotland. There’s actually other outer walls that I will post soon, but this is the most complete part still standing. Kilwinning was a Tironensian Benedictine monastic community, named after Tiron in the diocese of Chartres. The abbey was dedicated to Saint Winning and the Virgin Mary, and founded sometime between 1162 and 1188 with monks coming from Kelso.[1] The patron is not known for certain, but it may have been Richard de Morville, Lord of Cunninghame and Great Constable of Scotland, perhaps with the backing and assistance of King William of Scotland. This was one of those days when I set out it was lovely sun and only to arrive at my location to find it clouding over. I actually thought I had completely missed my window of opportunity before the sun went down when the cloud cover broke one last time to create this soft light.
Testament - 'something that serves as a sign or evidence of a specified fact, event, or quality'
This is another perspective of the standing stone that sits up on Ipstones Edge (I posted a photo a month or two back). It certainly bears testament in a number of ways, testament to what it once was (I don't know! probably a big gatepost), testament to the people who originally laid the stone hundreds of years ago - seeing as it's still standing proud despite the strong cross winds that have battered it over the centuries, and also testament to the people who once carved their initials on it.
I hate seeing things with history defaced but I must admit, I carved into to trees when I was a teenager - didn't seem to matter then! it was usually Panda (what I was known as back then!) loves (insert name of then girlfriend) and a heart! Oh dear, at least I grew up!
Leaning haphazardly against each other, this rock formation towers over the Wadi Rum visitor centre. It proceeds to a gradual peak with the highest pillar at its front. The clear, rounded shapes of the pillars standing side-by-side allowed it to inherit its name. Because of it shapes, this mountain look like many things. A collection of lopsided pillars, a procession of figures fanned out behind their leader, the bulwark of a great ship sailing through an ocean of sand. The modern name is taken from TE Lawrence’s memoir of his time in the desert. Though only five of these pillars are immediately visible, the other two are around the side. It is possible to walk around the formation but the best view is from a distance near the visitor centre. The original Arabic name is Jebel al-Mazmar, which means “The Mountain of the Plague.”
This site is one of the most amazing hiking spots in the area. The trail is one of stark contrasts: on one side, flat sands spread long distances, the very picture of the dry, yellow desert of the imagination in summer. In winter and spring, it is scattered with low grasses and bushes that animals come to graze on. Keep your eyes peeled and you might even spot a camel or two! On the other side, the mountain leaps from the ground in a sheer wall of sandstone and granite. A walk along the base of the rock is done easily at your own pace. Upon approaching the foot of this majestic mountain, tilt your head back and take in the enormity of the pillars. Massive as big-city skyscrapers, these natural formations speak of something ancient. A testament to this place and its withstanding thousands of years of both human and environmental turmoil.
This is a serene golden hour aerial view of Austin's skyline, gently reflected in the calm waters of Lady Bird Lake, a reservoir of the Colorado River. Auditorium Shores is the park on the south side of the lake. The park is a major recreational area, the site of major music performances at South by Southwest (SXSW), and several other events.
The Union Pacific Railroad Bridge (a.k.a. Austin Graffiti Train Bridge), a testament to Austin's rich history, is on the lower left. At the edge of the river's north shore is the Seaholm Intake Facility, a historic landmark, and just north, with its tall smokestacks, is the turbine generator building, now repurposed as apartments.
Block 185 (a.k.a. Google Building), The Independent, Sixth and Guadalupe, and The Austonian are among the skyscrapers in this view.
Austin is the 10th largest city in the United States and the fourth largest in Texas.
Free Will And Testament
by Robert Wyatt video
Given free will but within certain limitations,
I cannot will myself to limitless mutations,
I cannot know what I would be if I were not me,
I can only guess me.
So when I say that I know me, how can I know that?
What kind of spider understands arachnophobia?
I have my senses and my sense of having senses.
Do I guide them? Or they me?
The weight of dust exceeds the weight of settled objects.
What can it mean, such gravity without a centre?
Is there freedom to un-be?
Is there freedom from will-to-be?
Sheer momentum makes us act this way or that way.
We just invent or just assume a motivation.
I would disperse, be disconnected. Is this possible?
What are soldiers without a foe?
Be in the air, but not be air, be in the no air.
Be on the loose, neither compacted nor suspended.
Neither born nor left to die.
Had I been free, I could have chosen not to be me.
Demented forces push me madly round a treadmill.
Demented forces push me madly round a treadmill.
Let me off please, I am so tired.
Let me off please, I am so very tired.
There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of abandoned homes strewn throughout the countryside in Alberta. They did not fall out of the sky, but rather, were thoughtfully placed with the intentions of building a life within the four walls and a roof - a very long time ago.
When I come across these homesteads, I just have to stop. I don’t know why I am drawn to these old relics. Fossils of the past. It is as if can hear their heart beat in the solitude of the countryside.
Who lived here? What kind of life did they have? Did they conquer their hardships or challenges? It is without a doubt that the occupants encountered insurmountable struggles.
I try to imagine the essence of the house. Were there moments of joy and contentment despite the harshness and difficulties of the environment? I find it incredulous that it still stands even though it has been ravaged by time.
My imagination begins to percolate.
I want to hear the happy, contagious squeals of children giggling as they raced to the warmth of their beds at night; the sound of Mother humming as she lovingly brushed her daughter’s hair by the fire, or Father whistling with an air of fulfillment at a satisfying day of work that had been done and in anticipation of the hot meal waiting for him as he walked in, through the door. Goals, dreams and aspirations were quietly shared in the secrecy of night. Stolen kisses and affirmations of love and commitment were whispered as the children slept.
I wonder if this house had been enough for them? Why did they leave? What were their parting thoughts as they turned the key for that one last time? So many questions. No answers…
I snap a photo of the old gal.
I start driving down the lonely road but take one last look in my rearview mirror. I see a house surrounded by mass plantings of flowers, a thriving garden, chickens milling about and a clothesline that has a congregation of well worn clothes that are being gently seduced by an unusually warm summer breeze. The children are playing Kick-the-can out in the fields.
The joy of their laughter is a welcome sound to their Mother and Father who are sitting together on the porch sipping lemonade and enjoying a respite from the monotony of chores. No words pass between them. They bask in the silence of their mutual contentment.
I see a house that was once brimming with life and love. It stands proud and tenacious as a testament to those who happen to pass by on this lonely country road and those who have the ears to hear the echoes of laughter wafting in the wind, proclaiming that this house was more than four walls and a roof - it was a home…
Yancowinna Creek, a typical bed load channel, only recently activated by substantial but short-lived flood flows. Large sand banks, deep dry pools and some more abandoned concrete blocks are testament to the power of these desert streams. Yanco Glen north of Broken Hill, northwest NSW.
HD PENTAX-D FA 24-70mm f2.8
HFF
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Step back in time with this captivating photograph of a rustic wooden barn at McDaniel Farm Park, taken on a fresh early May morning. This historic structure, framed by vibrant green trees and a clear blue sky, stands as a testament to the agricultural heritage of the area. The winding path in the foreground, flanked by lush grass and leading to a quaint bridge, invites visitors to explore and discover the tranquil beauty of this preserved farmstead. Perfect for history buffs and nature enthusiasts alike, this image combines the allure of historical architecture with the serene ambience of a park setting.
From the elegant curve of a rose to the wild dance of a daisy, each flower is a testament to the boundless creativity of the earth.
English has but one word for love: "love". Yet love is multi- dimensional. The New Testament of the Bible is written in Greek which has four words for love: Eros - romantic love, Filios (Phileo) - love of friends, Storge (STOR-jay) - family love: between parents & children as well as between siblings, and Agape - unselfish love: love in action that cares for and about others. Agape is the word for love most used in the New Testament. "Agape" your neighbor is to take actions to care about even those you may not personally know. It is radical: Jesus said, "Love your enemies, do good to those who persecute you." So to "Agape" your enemies is to take actions that care about them! In this photo are several hearts that embody these multifaceted kinds and ways of love. Including love of and from animals, for the gift of life itself, and always The Cornerstone: God who IS LOVE.
Thank you for taking the time to view my photo, and for the faves and comments you make, thank you.
Rich and Lush Greenery..
In early August we ventured into the park, we took the long way round, this year has had lots of rain and the undergrowth has exploded ... the lushness of the forest floor and the deep green is a testament to the abundance of rain we have had this year.
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© NICK MUNROE (MUNROE PHOTOGRAPHY)
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It's Guardian Angels day today 02/10/22 so I thought it would be an opportunity to use one of Asha's last photoshoots shot just a few weeks before she passed away. The background is her Ballywhiskin Beach. When I read up on this Guardian Angels Day I was surprised that the Catholic church and other faiths believed in Guardian Angels. I just thought this was something authors created to sell books as I only remember Angels from the bible being more warriors and not what I personally associate angels to be. I have always believed in guardian angels, but I just thought this was my own personal view and not a bibical view. So it was lovely to read that the Church believe in guardian angels. Now I have my own guardian angel who is called Asha.
Surveys have shown that close to 75% of Americans believe in guardian angels. Guardian Angels Day, also known as Guardian Angel Day, is for giving recognition and thanks to the guardian angels in our life, and to do something special to recognize them. It is a day to learn about the role that guardian angels have played in our lives, as well as to learn about the roles they have played in different cultures and religions.
Today also is an official day of the Catholic Church, known as Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels or the Feast of Guardian Angels. This Catholic festival is celebrated on October 2 each year and is a day to thank God for one's guardian angels. Local celebrations of guardian angels date to the eleventh century CE, and the belief that every human had a guardian angel was widespread in the Catholic church by the twelfth century. The feast was first observed in 1500, by the Franciscan Order.
In 1608, Pope Paul V officially authorized the feast. It originally was a supplement of sorts to the Feast of Saint Michael. In the 1670s, Pope Clement X made October 2 the official date and made the day an obligatory double feast. Leo XIII made it a double major feast in 1883, and since 1976 it has been ranked as an obligatory memorial.
According to Catholic belief, both Christians and non-Christians have a guardian angel assigned to them, that gives them guidance throughout their lives. Guardian angels are from the lowest rank of angels. The angels protect their assigned person from demons and encourage them to do good works. Everyone is reunited with their guardian angel when they reach heaven.
According to beliefs throughout the world, guardian angels may protect people, groups, kingdoms, or countries. The concept of guardian angels goes back to ancient Judaism; in the Hebrew Bible, angels sometimes were given missions to intervene in the affairs of humans, and they are mentioned as being guides and intercessors. Psalm 91:11 is often cited as evidence of guardian angels: "For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."
The New Testament also mentions angels that go between God and man. By the fifth century CE, the belief in guardian angels was prevalent in Christianity. Belief in guardian angels is largely held in the Anglican Communion, and the Eastern Orthodox Church sees guardian angels as friends and protectors. The Catholic Church's beliefs are as described above. Many other Christian denominations, such as Lutherans and Methodists, have some form of belief in guardian angels.
In Islam, there is a belief in mu'aqqibat, which has to do with guardian angels. Some Muslims believe everyone has two guardian angels—one in front of them and one in back of them. In Zoroastrianism, each person has a guardian angel which guides them throughout their life. The belief in guardian angels crosses cultures and religions, and today everyone who believes in their power gives them thanks.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches
The tree and the pit winding gear have been around much longer than the factory chimney on the right.
The heaven opens. This is from 3 years ago in September, amazing what you find when you dig into the hard drive!
Beauly firth
Inverness-shire
Scotland
Kisimul Castle (Caisteal Chiosmuil, ‘castle of the rock of the small bay’) is testament to the nature of Gaelic lordship in the Middle Ages. The island fastness in Castle Bay was the residence of the chief of the Macneils of Barra, who claimed descent from the legendary Niall of the Nine Hostages. Tradition tells of the Macneils settling in Barra in the 11th century, but it was only in 1427 that Gilleonan Macneil comes on record as the first lord. He probably built the castle that dominates the rocky islet, and in its shadow a crew house for his personal galley and crew. The sea coursed through Macneil veins, and a descendant, Ruari ‘the Turbulent’, was arrested for piracy of an English ship during King James VI’s reign in the later 16th century.
The Macneils of Barra claimed Irish descent from the legendary Niall of the Nine Hostages, high king of Ireland in the 5th century and great-grandfather of St Columba. By the 15th century, their clan chief was part of an élite group of lesser lords who were members of the Council of the Isles. This body advised the MacDonalds, Lords of the Isles. They traditionally met at Finlaggan, on Islay, in the southern Hebrides. The Macneils may have had some control over Barra in earlier medieval times, but it wasn’t until 1427 that they emerged as lords of Barra, when Gilleonan Macneil was granted the island by Lord Alexander MacDonald.
Heavy debts eventually forced the Macneil chiefs to sell Barra in 1838. However, a descendant, Robert Lister Macneil, the 45th Chief, repurchased the estate in 1937, and set about restoring his ancestral seat. It passed into Historic Scotland’s care in 2000.
The castle dates essentially from the 15th century. It takes the form of a three-storey tower house. This formed the residence of the clan chief. An associated curtain wall fringed the small rock on which the castle stood, and enclosed a small courtyard in which there are ancillary buildings. These comprised a feasting hall, a chapel, a tanist’s (heir’s) house and a gokman’s (watchman’s) house. Most were restored in the 20th century, the tanist’s house serving as the family home of the Macneils. A well near the postern gate is fed with fresh water from an underground seam. Outside the curtain wall, beside the original landing-place, are the foundations of the crew house, where the sailors manning their chief’s galley had their quarters.
Historic Scotland
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Late night show with Testament! My ears are still ringing.
¡Un concierto tarde por la noche con Testament! Los oídos siguen sonando.
One of the big attractions of Brugge, should you be so inclined, is a relic allegedly containing the blood of Jesus Christ. The relic, in a showcase made from glass and wood as shown here, is regularly presented to the believers. Its location is the Heilig-Bloedbasiliek (Basilica of the Holy Blood), a Roman Catholic institution going back to the 12th century. It was also in that century that the small glass tube with the golden stoppers (probably of Byzantine origin) came to Brugge. Ever since, Brugge has been a place of pilgrimage. The veneration of the blood of Jesus Christ has comfortably survived the Reformation and is completely oblivious to the fact that this is a tradition outside the text of the New Testament. However, I would say this, would I not? I am a Lutheran. Fuji X100F.
Haus des Heiligenstädter Testaments
In der Probusgasse 6 in Heiligenstadt, einem Wiener Stadtteil im 19. Bezirk Döbling.
House of the Heiligenstadt Testament
In Heiligenstadt, a part of Döbling, the 19th district of Vienna.
"The Heiligenstadt Testament is a letter written by Ludwig van Beethoven to his brothers Carl and Johann [in this house] on 6 October 1802.
It reflects his despair over his increasing deafness, even his contemplation of suicide, and his continued desire to overcome his physical and emotional ailments to complete his artistic destiny. Beethoven kept the document among his private papers and probably never showed it to anyone. It was discovered in March 1827, after Beethoven's death..."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heiligenstadt_Testament
Here's the complete Heiligenstadt Testament in an English translation: en.wikisource.org/wiki/Heiligenstadt_Testament
"Das Heiligenstädter Testament ist ein Brief des Komponisten Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) an seine Brüder Kaspar Karl und Johann von 1802, in dem er seine Verzweiflung über die fortschreitende Ertaubung und den nahe geglaubten Tod ausdrückte. [...]
Beethoven wohnte in einem freistehenden Bauernhaus außerhalb von Heiligenstadt auf dem Weg nach Nußdorf in der Herrengasse 6 (heute: Probusgasse 6). Dort schrieb der 31-Jährige am 6. Oktober einen Brief an seine Brüder, in dem er in emphatischen Worten die Sorge um sein schlechter werdendes Gehör, seine gesellschaftliche Isolation, die daraus keimenden und überwundenen Suizidgedanken beschreibt und seinen Nachlass regelt. Obwohl er am 10. Oktober noch eine Nachschrift verfasste, den Papierbogen faltete und versiegelte, schickte er den Brief, der erst 1827 im Nachlass aufgefunden wurde, nicht ab.
Anlass zur Niederlegung des Testamentes war der sich zunehmend verschlechternde Gesundheitszustand Beethovens, besonders aber die Verzweiflung aufgrund seiner fortschreitenden Ertaubung, die sich bereits ab 1796 abzeichnete. Die ersten zwei Drittel der Schrift nimmt die Rechtfertigung Beethovens gegenüber seiner Mitwelt ein, der er zu verstehen gibt, dass er nicht „Feindseelig störisch oder Misantropisch“ sei, sondern dass: „muste ich früh mich absondern, einsam mein Leben zubringen“, da er durch seine Taubheit „zurückgestoßen“ sei, denn es war ihm unmöglich kundzugeben: „sprecht lauter, schreyt, denn ich bin Taub“..."
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heiligenst%C3%A4dter_Testament
Hier der Wortlaut des Heiligenstädter Testaments: de.wikisource.org/wiki/Heiligenst%C3%A4dter_Testament
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_denkmalgesch%C3%BCtzten_O...
Holy Trinity and to the 9 choirs of angels (plague column)
Property ID: 446 Ditch, at the height of Bräuner street
Cadastral Community: Inner City. Originated is the column 1687-1694 in several phases and with a number of plan modifications. The 18 meter high column with a triangular base whose side faces are surrounded by an own balustrade. In the base area there are reliefs of Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and Ignaz Bendl, coat of arms of hereditary lands as well as a group of figures Fides (Saints Faith, Hope and Charity (Latin: Fides, Spes et Caritas, New Testament Greek: Πίστις, Ἐλπίς καὶ Ἀγάπη (Pistis, Elpis, and Agape, Wikipedia), plunging the plague into the abyss, above a kneeling figure of Leopold I. On the pedestal are accumulated clouds with nine life-size angels and numerous putti (executed by Johann Frühwirt, Adam Kracker and Paul Strudel) to see which are crowned by a representation of Trinity (Strudel).
Heilige Dreifaltigkeit und zu den 9 Chören der Engel (Pestsäule)
Objekt ID: 446Graben, auf Höhe Bräunerstraße
Katastralgemeinde: Innere Stadt. Entstanden ist die Säule 1687-1694 in mehreren Phasen und mit etlichen Planänderungen. Die 18 Meter hohe Säule mit dreieckigem Sockel, dessen Seitenflächen ist mit einer eigenen Balustrade umgeben. Im Sockelbereich befinden sich Reliefs von Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach und Ignaz Bendl, Wappen der Erbländer sowie eine Figurengruppe Fides, die die Pest in den Abgrund stürzt, darüber eine kniende Figur Leopolds I.. Auf dem Sockel ist ein Wolkenberg mit neun lebensgroßen Engeln und zahlreichen Putten zu sehen (ausgeführt von Johann Frühwirt, Adam Kracker und Paul Strudel), der von einer Dreifaltigkeitsdarstellung (Strudel) bekrönt wird.
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_denkmalgesch%C3%BCtzten_O...
The Byzantine mosaics on the central nave and aisles of the Palatine Chapel in Palermo, Italy, were completed during the reign of King Guglielmo I (1154-1166). Here we see the Old Testament stories of Adam and Eve and Abraham and Isaac.
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View on black please!
I'm heading back to Iceland in just over a weeks time. This time, there will be no aurora, but there will be the midnight sun, so expect even more shots like this! This is sunrise over a lava field on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland, possibly one of the most photogenic places in the world.
This shot is a testament to the Nikon D800, as it's a single exposure. Just look at the dynamic range you can grab from that 36mp sensor! I picked one of the underexposed shot and used Lightroom to drop the highlights slightly and bring up the shadows all the way. There was next to no noise in the dark areas, even increasing it all this way.
No images in comments please.
Details
NIKON D800 / ISO 100 / f/8 / 1/640s / Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 62mm / Location: Snæfellsnes, Iceland
A statue of Elizabeth Eckford, one of the Little Rock Nine, on the grounds of the Arkansas State Capitol in downtown Little Rock. The sculpture, called Testament, has life-size representations of each of the Little Rock Nine students who integrated LR Central High School in 1957. The statue of Eckford is very similar to the iconic photograph of her stoically walking to the school while being pursued by a crazed-looking mob.
© Darlene Bushue Photography 2023
A breathtaking moment as fall's vibrant colors collide with winter's pristine snow. The old mining structure stands as a testament to the region's history. Million Dollar Highway (Oct 2023). Enjoy your day!!!
Antebellum Church in rural Alabama, built c. 1853. The small door to the right of the main entrance were the stairs used only by slaves to enter the 'slave gallery' loft above the main sanctuary in the church.
The slave gallery is now inhabited by a very large and aggressive owl!
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e7/The_Brand_New_Test...
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click to activate the icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream;
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.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards/winners-...
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
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This story in photographs and words was created last year 2023, in the Sicilian town of Butera, in the province of Caltanissetta, on the occasion of Palm Sunday: it is precisely in this town that a characteristic re-enactment is celebrated with the 12 apostles wearing traditional costumes, of Christ's entry into Jerusalem, for the occasion Christ (his statue) does not use the back of a donkey, as handed down to us by the Holy Gospels, rather he is placed on a singular open car without of doors, and then subsequently more classically the Christ is carried on the shoulder on a float, on this last occasion we witness a unique traditional fact, which I personally had never seen, whoever has to carry the float on the front buys this possibility at auction (a few dozen euros, which will be donated to charity), the two devotees who win them will have the honor of carrying the statue of Christ on their shoulders, metaphorically, the two front bearers will be the first "to enter Jerusalem" (i.e. into the church of Our Lady of Graces, which will be opened on command of Saint Peter, who by banging with his stick on the door will ensure that it is opened allowing the entry of the float with Christ). We then witness a characteristic procession with Christ placed in front (first on the characteristic car, then carried on the shoulder on the float), behind there are always the 12 apostles, wearing the traditional costumes of the procession, all carrying in their hands a stick decorated with flowers (wallflowers), with olive branches, wild mint stems and colored ribbons; eleven of them wear a blue tunic, the apostle John instead wears white, since he is considered the purest, since he did not betray Jesus and followed him to Calvary, the apostle Judas has a bag that preserves the 30 money that he received as a reward "for his betrayal" and a small wooden barrel containing wine, in fact whoever impersonates Judas must behave like a drunkard, a person not very inclined to a spiritual life. Everyone wears a cardboard halo, which is fixed to a lock of hair, causing a few drops of wax to drip onto it from a lit candle; the procession proceeds behind with the priests, the town's devotees and the musical band. A nod to a curious fact that happened to me that day, I had planned to go to Aidone, where on the occasion of Palm Sunday there is a celebration with the "Santuni" (Big Saints), very big wooden and papier-mâché statues depicting the twelve apostles, which is from my town, Taormina, about 129 KM, I had also contacted some local people by telephone to ask for information; I would have liked to go to Butera, but the distance of 160 km (who knows why, at the time it seemed excessive, perhaps the navigator was giving me a much longer route) had made me postpone it until who knows when; that morning, very early, I left to go to Aidone, during the journey, near Enna, the navigator lost the signal, and unbeknownst to me, incredible to say, it reconnected to "my search for the routes of a couple of days before” …taking me, against my will, to Butera: so, while I was taking my photographs during the procession, I thanked and blessed that navigator of mine…who had turned out to be so… enterprising.
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Questo racconto in fotografie e parole, è stato realizzato l’anno scorso 2023, nel paese siciliano di Butera, in provincia di Caltanissetta, in occasione del giorno della Domenica delle Palme: è proprio in questo paese che si celebra una caratteristica rievocazione con i 12 apostoli che indossano costumi tradizionali, dell’ingresso di Cristo in Gerusalemme, per l’occasione il Cristo (la sua statua) non si avvale del dorso di un asinello, come tramandatoci dai Sacri Vangeli, piuttosto viene posto su di una singolare automobile aperta priva di sportelli, e poi successivamente più classicamente il Cristo viene portato in spalla su di una vara (il fercolo), in quest’ultima occasione si assiste ad un fatto tradizionale unico, che personalmente non avevo mai visto, i due posti anteriori della vara vengono messi all’asta (poche decine di euro, che verranno devolute in beneficenza), i due devoti che se li aggiudicano avranno l’onore di portare la statua del Cristo sulle proprie spalle (questa particolarissima asta viene chiamata “a spadda all'asta”), metaforicamente, i due portatori anteriori, saranno i primi “ad entrare in Gerusalemme” (ovvero dentro la chiesa della Madonna delle Grazie, che verrà aperta su comando di San Pietro, che battendo col proprio bastone sul portone farà si che esso venga aperto consentendo l’ingresso della vara col Cristo). Si assiste quindi ad una caratteristica processione col Cristo posto sul davanti (dapprima sulla caratteristica automobile, poi portato in spalla sulla vara), dietro si trovano sempre i 12 apostoli, che indossano i costumi tradizionali della processione, tutti portano in mano un bastone addobbato con fiori (violaciocche), con rami d’ulivo, steli di menta selvatica e nastri colorati; undici di essi indossano una tunica di colore blu, l’apostolo Giovanni invece veste di bianco, poiché viene considerato il più puro, poiché non tradì Gesù e lo seguì fino al Calvario, l’apostolo Giuda in più ha un sacchetto che conserva i 30 denari che ebbe come ricompensa “per il suo tradimento” ed un piccolo barilotto in legno (o caratello) contenente vino, infatti chi impersona Giuda deve comportarsi come un beone, una persona poco incline ad una vita spirituale. Tutti indossano una aureola di cartone, che viene fissata su di una ciocca di capelli, facendovi colare sopra qualche goccia di cera da una candela accesa, infine dietro procede il corteo con i sacerdoti, i devoti del paese, la banda musicale. Un cenno ad un fatto curioso che mi accadde quel giorno, avevo programmato di andare ad Aidone, dove in occasione della Domenica delle Palme c’è la festa con i “Santuni”, grandi statue in legno e cartapesta raffiguranti i dodici apostoli, che dista dal mio paese, Taormina, circa 129 KM, avevo anche contattato telefonicamente qualche persona locale per chiedere informazioni; mi sarebbe piaciuto andare a Butera, ma la distanza di 160 km (chissà perchè, sul momento mi sembrava eccessiva, forse il navigatore mi dava un percorso molto più lungo) mi aveva fatto rimandare a chissà quando; quella mattina, molto presto, io partii per andare ad Aidone, durante il tragitto, in prossimità di Enna, il navigatore perse il segnale, e si riagganciò a mia insaputa, incredibile a dirsi, alla “mia ricerca sui percorsi di un paio di giorni prima” …portandomi, mio malgrado, a Butera: così, mentre scattavo le mie fotografie durante la processione, ringraziavo e benedicevo quel mio navigatore…che si era rivelato così … intraprendente.
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