ITALIA TOUR

HISTORICAL REENACTMENT OF AIDONE ENNA BEAT

Historical reenactment of the beat, "u batt'ment"
Every ten years, on the days immediately preceding the feast of St. Lawrence (August 8 and 9), there was a historical re-enactment of an episode dating back to the Norman conquest.
Tradition dates back to the seventeenth century and has witnessed until 1890.
The costume tournament recalled a fight between Christian and Saracen horsemen, to which two Lombard contingents of the Ruggero d'Altavilla army participated.
The battle would take place at the so-called "Passo dei Giudei" (the present Ciappino district), on the road leading to Piazza Armerina. In the historic costume tournament called the Blast, a knight of Christian knights departing from the city and a drapery of Saracen knights coming from the opposite side collided in two separate assaults.

After the first assault, the uncertain outcome, the Christian knights retired in the tents to pray and fast, while the Saracens drank; In the second assault, the Saracens were clearly defeated and captured.
All this ended with a general pacification for Christians and Saracens ended up hugging and moving together in a single procession to Aidone, where they would follow the procession of Our Lady of Grace. For some years (2005), in August, this tradition is being revived, which is increasingly enriched with figures and meanings; With a medieval festival in which there is the Countess Adelasia, granddaughter of GranConte Ruggero I, with her husband Rinaldo d'Avenel and the historical procession consisting of knights, armies, infants, jugglers, singers, bridesmaids and bridesmaids.
Recently, the History of the Normans has been inserted by Goffredo Malaterra and Fra 'Simone da Lentini, which is recited by a playwright and a young Toddler chosen by 20 candidates (5 for each historic quarter) recites the part of Contessa ADELASIA, A magnificent benefactor who made several mills on the river Gornalunga (Albos) and built the Church of S. Maria Plana in 1134 AD
Sometimes, on the occasion of the Feast of Our Lady of Grace (July 2nd), there is also a historical procession that recalls the arrival of Adelasia al Castello, accompanied by the gonfalons of the four historic districts (San Leone II Pope, St. James, St. John Sant'Anna) and Santa Maria Lo Plano.

Source: wikipedia