For the Madonna’s Birthday, Assisi Joins in a Celebratory Procession

On September 8th – Festa della Nativita’ della Beata Vergine Maria (Nativity of the Blessed Viirgin) – the locals of the area of “upper Assisi” (near the Cathedral of San Rufino) join together in a procession as the Beata Vergine is carried on the shoulders of members of a medieval confraternity from the Cathedral of San Rufino to a smaller confraternity church, Santa Caterina.

Leading the procession, a band plays solemnly:

The procession winds through the medieval backstreets of Assisi, members of le confraternita’ just behind the Blessed Virgin….

…and then the faithful of all ages…

….and Assisi’s Mayor Stefania Proietti joined in, too, and you can see her here below in the white shirt – just behind the Viirgin:

Here and there, a local leaned out of a window to greet la Beata Vergine as she passes…

In small piazzette along the way, the procession stopped and a small children’s choir sang praises to la Beata Vergine Maria – as the band listened with evident respect:

The procession moved solemnly along medieval twisting alleyways…

…and soon La Madonna di Porta Perlici passed that very Porta Perlici, oldest of the eight medieval entryways to Assisi with construction started in the early 12th-century (but there was probably an entryway to Assisi there even in Roman times):

A short walk away, the Madonna di Perlici arrived at destination, that small church dedicated to St. Catherine, Santa Caterina and seat of one of the confraternities participating in the procession – and carrying the Madonna.

Members of the band awaited her outside the church:

The poster announcing the festivities was affixed to the wall near the entryway….

…and inside, the children

….and inside the children welcomed her in song:

Afterwards, all headed to the nearby restored Roman amphitheater where refreshment was offered to all; after all, here in Italy all celebrations include the sharing of food and drink.