After Palm Sunday, there are interesting religious rituals in the most important churches of Sorrento throughout Holy Week evoking the most precious moments of Jesus’ life and passion. Citizens and families participate very actively and there is great cooperation among all involved in the planning of processions. Each town along the Sorrento Peninsula organizes their own processions and their citizens must be invited to take part. I will say that there is also a kind of friendly competition going on.
During the processions, people are named “Incappucciati” by the costumes they are wearing — a hood with 2 little holes for the eyes. The most impressive and evocative event is celebrated on the Friday before Easter where the procession recalls Jesus’ passion, crucifixion, and death. The “Incappucciati” all wear black costumes with some carrying the symbols of the passion while others (“Miserere”) simply sing in the choir.
The citizens of Sorrento are very proud of their tradition of processions and have passed them on from one generation to the next. The processions take place along the main streets of Sorrento. They last about 3hours with stops every few minutes along the way so the crowds can admire participants. In recent years these processions have become major tourist attractions as well with people from all over the world coming to witness these religious and pagan customs.
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