Mendrisio's processions as a Unesco cultural heritage site
The Holy Week processions in Mendrisio have been officially submitted as a candidate for inclusion on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The popular procession is accompanied by three music societies.
The religious processions of Mendrisio take place every year on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday and attract thousands of spectators. The Maundy Thursday procession is dedicated to a representation of the Passion of Christ and the Way of the Cross, performed by around 270 amateur actors and actresses. The Good Friday procession is simpler and more solemn. It is attended by 700 residents, adults and children. They carry various religious objects and parade through the streets accompanied by three music societies.
The lights go out in the city during the processions. Only the glow of the trasparenti illuminates the streets. The pictures are painted on translucent canvases, mounted on wooden frames and illuminated from the inside. The trasparenti, which have been produced using a special process since the 18th century, are a special feature of the processions. Passing on this skill, whether for the restoration of centuries-old objects or the production of new works, is a central element of the candidacy.
The Federal Office of Culture (FOC) and the Fondazione Processioni Storiche di Mendrisio have jointly prepared the candidature dossier. Following an evaluation process lasting several months, UNESCO is expected to decide in November 2019 whether to inscribe this tradition on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
