San Matteo, a day that belongs to the Salerno community

The air you breathe in Cathedralwith the statue of Saint Matthew that looks toward the entrance from the high altar and the saints already lined up along the left aisle, is already loaded with all the expectations of the great day of the people of Salerno, the one that unites families, brings back those who are away and acts as a reminder of identity. Because there are things that must be done and are postponed until after San Matteo, as if it were the true beginning of the year after the summer, a very local New Year’s Eve that only those born in Salerno can understand. Every cog in the machine that has been moving for centuries on September 21 is almost ready. “Surely – explains the parish priest of the Duomodon Happy Moliterno – unlike last year’s San Matteo which was my first, this year there is great joy but also much more awareness”.

Even though the procession has been passing through the streets of the city for centuries, in fact, the script is always new and is written along the way, even if the route is always the same. It has not escaped notice, for example, that in his debut as parish priest, Don Felice has impressed on the procession an unprecedented speed, even keeping a firm hand in passing between one paranza and another.This year – assures – there will be even more rhythm and fluidity, obviously without ever taking anything away from the importance and solemnity of the moment. But together with the bearers, in full harmony, we shared the path and the method, even if much is decided on the spot”.

More than the construction sites, however, the real enemy of the statue bearers are the potholes scattered along the route.The shipyards at Corso, this year – he confirms Raphael Amorosoleader of the San Matteo fishing fleet – they shouldn’t create any problems for us, our goal is to try to fray the procession as little as possible by remaining compact between the paranze so as not to create unnecessary delays. Even for the blessing at sea a solution has been found that seems correct to us, so all that remains is to go down with the statues”.

This year, however, for the San Matteo fishing boat it will be a celebration with a bitter aftertaste because for everyone the memory and pain for the passing of Ciro De Caroa much-loved character Historic Center. “Our T-shirts – anticipates the leader of the patron’s paranza – They will carry a writing that wants to be a tribute to Ciro and to the many who, in these years have left us. For us the pride and joy of being carriers never changes, indeed it grows over time, but in our hearts we carry a veil of sadness for the loved ones, the friends and the many companions on the road who are no longer with us”.

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