Procession of the Most Blessed Virgin of Our Sorrows This procession starts at midnight between Holy Thursday and Holy Friday from the Church of S. Domenico Maggiore and lasts about 14 hours. The brothers wear the traditional dress with a white tunic tight on the waistline and on the wrists, a black rosary hanging from the waistline with sacred medals and a crucifix, hanging on the right side of the tunic, a black belt with white edge and four stripes, a front buttoned black mozzetta with a white edge with a metal medal portraying the Dolorous Mother, a black hat with a white edge, leaning on the shoulders and fixed on the waistline with a ribbon; a white hood with two holes corresponding to the eyes and a crown of twigs on their head; white tights and gloves; black shoes with white cockades and a black button. The procession is composed of the Troccola, the instrument which opens the procession, the Pèsare representing the stones thrown against Jesus Christ, the Cross of Mysteries, the Third Cross, the Second Cross, the First Cross, the Throne, and finally the statue of the Most Blessed Virgin of Our Sorrows, carried by the Confraternity of SS. Maria Addolorata and San Domenico. Two musical bands playing the funeral marches accompany the procession. Furthermore there are four couples in front of the Cross-bearers and other two in front of the Throne as well as two people carrying a mace responsible for keeping the procession in order and replace the brother in case of necessity.
This procession starts in the afternoon on Holy Friday from the Church of Carmine, carrying the statues which symbolize the passion of Christ and crossing Borgo Nuovo: it lasts about 15 hours. The brothers wear the traditional dress of the so-called ‘Perdoni’ composed of a white tunic, a black belt, the rosary, the scapular (symbol of the devoted to Our Virgin of Carmine), a cream mozzetta, a black and blue hat, and a white hood tused to cover their faces. All the brothers walk barefoot very slowly (it is said that they ‘nazzicano’, meaning ‘they rock’ to the rhythm of the funeral music). The procession is composed of the ‘Troccola’, the instrument which opens the procession, the ‘Gonfalone’, which is the flag of the confraternity, the Cross of the Mysteries, Christ praying in the Olive Grove, the Column, Ecce Homo, the ‘Cascata’, the Crucifix, the Holy Shroud, Dead Christ, and the Most Blessed Virgin of Our Sorrows. There are also three couples in front of the statues and seven ‘maces’ responsible for keeping the procession in order and replace the brother in case of necessity. The procession comes back to the Church of Carmine in the morning of Holy Saturday. The funeral marches played by the local musical bands are among the most important features of the Holy week in Taranto.
