1. THE HISTORICAL PARADE
Cassino (13th-21stMarch)
The historical parade in Cassino
(“Terra Sancti Benedicti”) was born in
1994. It is set between 800 and 1300
A.D., during the Middle Ages. In 1995
there were 50 walks-on wearing
chartered clothes. The following year
they started to wear their own.
It has taken place every year
since 1994 during the days of
Saint Benedict (13th March/21st
March), patron of Cassino and
Europe. On March 13th 450
walks-on go to Montecassino
Abbey and on 14th and 21st they
parade along the most important
streets of Cassino.
2. Every year
some walks-on
go to Rome to
receive the
papal blessing.
The historical parade is
followed by the papal torch
which is lit up in a different
European capital every
year and after that torch-
bearers bring it to the three
important centres of Saint
Benedict’s life:
Montecassino, Subiaco
and Norcia.
3. Eventually the torch arrives in Cassino
and on March 21st we have a big
celebration with the parade and some
years ago also fireworks. Many
European ambassadors and political
authorities come here to attend the
event, not only Catholics but also
Anglicans; in fact we established a
good relationship with them after the
visit to Westminster on the occasion of
the torch lighting. The relic of Saint
Benedict (a part of his arm) is carried
by some volunteers through the city
streets. The procession is led by the
abbot, accompanied by the whole
parade, some congregations, religious
and political authorities and the town
musical band.
4. The arm of St. Benedict of Norcia, given in
the eighth century of prayer of King
Desiderio is kept at the Monastery Leno
(BS). While other relics of St. Benedict of
Norcia are in the Abbey of Monte Cassino
(FR).
The Knights of the Holy Sepulchre is an
order that has been established at the time
of the Crusades.
5. There are many roles among the walks-on
such as nobles, bourgeois, lower people and
the militia. Nobles are organized by lineage
and municipalities. First of all there is Saint
German which was the most important court
which ruled every territory in Cassino and in
the vicinity.
- The Rector: the highest authority of
universities, representative of the abbot,
had the rule of the territory of the castle;
he was usually a monk, but also a
faithful layman, appointed abbot.
- The Court: in the Middle Ages all the
buildings and territories around the castle of
the feudal lord.
-The Damsel: a young girl, more
specifically, in the past, a girl of noble
family, often in the service of a princess.
6. The Lower class women
In the common medieval city the middle
classes joined a guild. People belonging to
the lower classes
Medieval dances are accompanied by
instrumental popular music.
These dances are used to brighten up the
mood and are often made in groups with
steps in torque and a lot of movements in
circle.
Tambourines and baskets were used to
make the sound better and to stress the
rhythm.
7. The Jester
A professional clown employed by a king or
nobleman, especially at courts during the
Middle Ages. They were the only ones who
were allowed to express their opinions in
the form of joke.
Notary, auctioneer and helpers
A notary is a lawyer or person with legal
training who is licensed by the State to
perform acts in legal affairs, in particular
witnessing signatures on documents.
An auctioneer is a person who conducts
an auction by announcing the lots and
controlling the bidding.
8. After the sad experience of mercenary troops
prevailed in Montecassino the need to create
a militia for the permanent defence of its
territory. Those settlers were recruited who
had more aptitude for weapons and trained in
a systematic manner. The armed men on
horseback were lifted from any other
contribution to the Abbey.
The Abbey army was
constituted by :
* The knights who were
small feudal lords,
nobles of the land of
St. Benedict;
* The servants, i.e.
infantry, were all the
other subjects. They
military service was
obliged only in case of
necessity.
