The Municipality of Torre Annunziata has officially started the process for the nomination of the Feast of the Madonna della Neve as Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Campania Region.
The decision, approved by the municipal council, aims to enhance and preserve one of the most deep-rooted and ancient religious and popular traditions and a symbol of the city of Annunziata Tower.
The Votive Feast of the Madonna della Neve, which is celebrated every year on October 22, represents an event of deep devotion and collective participation for the community. The candidacy will be presented to the Campania Region with a detailed dossier that will collect historical documents, testimonies, photographs and audiovisual materials to tell the richness and complexity of the Feast.
"We have also begun the process to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Basilica Ave Gratia Plena and the parish rector, Don Paolino Franzese, to support the candidacy," explains Alfonso Ascione, Councilor for Tourism and promoter of the initiative. "Great attention will be paid to involving local associations, the faithful, and scholars in the area to ensure a solid and representative candidacy.
The Feast of the Madonna della Neve has all the characteristics to be included in the Campania Region Inventory of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”.
“It is wonderful that this initiative is being launched at the beginning of the Jubilee Year,” explains Don Paolino Franzese, “it is a further element to enhance the heritage of faith that October 22 represents.
It is an even stronger choice since our Basilica has been identified by the Diocese of Nola as a Jubilee Church. This will bring many faithful to Torre Annunziata. I have already received reservations from groups who will come on pilgrimage to the Basilica”.
The tradition of the Madonna della Neve has its roots in the 5th century and finds its culmination in two historical dates for the city: August 22th, the day in which the discovery of the Sacred Effigy at sea is commemorated, but above all October 1822nd, the day in which the Vow made by the city to the Madonna is celebrated for the miracle that occurred in XNUMX when the Virgin stopped the lava of Vesuvius.
The Inventory promoted by the Campania Region is in line with what was declared by UNESCO, which has identified as World Heritage not only monuments, works and material goods, but also traditions and events that are handed down from generation to generation.
“The nomination of the Feast of the Madonna della Neve as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Campania is an important step towards officially recognising, outside our territory, the cultural, historical and identity-related value of this celebration – declared Mayor Corrado Cuccurullo – This choice aims to enhance the identity roots and to make known outside our territory the deep bond that exists between the people of Torre del Greco and their Patron Saint.
An emotionally strong event, among the most popular in Campania and the South, which draws tens of thousands of people to the streets of our city: not only residents and citizens of the surrounding municipalities but also the many Torre Annunziata residents who live outside and who return specifically to Torre Annunziata on October 22. It is a visceral bond that goes beyond Faith”.
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Comments (1)
It is interesting that the Municipality of Torre Annunziata has decided to nominate the Festa della Madonna della Neve as Intangible Cultural Heritage. We hope that this initiative will bring more attention and valorization to local traditions that are very important for the community.