THE “VARA”

One of the most important, suggestive and characteristic traditions of Messina, which falls on the 15th of August, is the “Vara”, reason of pride and unity among the citizens. Its origin date from the XVI century, when, precisely in 1535, Emperor Carlo V was accepted by the Senate and the people of Messina with a chariot whose characters an cosmic symbols were similar to the present ones.


The “Vara” depicts the Assumption into heaven of the Virgin Maria.
It has a pyramidal shape about 14 meters high and weighing 8 tons. This votive machine consist of a structure wrought in iron, called “bell”, which contains complex mechanical gears that animate the apparatus. The whole building rests on a sturdy log equipped with sledges that is pulled, along a specific route, by about a thousand of devotees through two ropes over 110 meters long.

On the first platform of the “Vara” it is shown the lifeless body of the Virgin Maria, upper the seven heavens above that she must cross to reach the Empyrean, even more on a globe surmounted by a series of clouds and surrounded by a host of angels; finally, on the top, an effigy of Jesus Christ holding in his right hand the soul of the Virgin assumed into heaven. Until 1860 all the characters were living persons, after a series of accidents however, they prefer to use paper made representations.

At half the procession, the “Vara” takes a ride called “Girata” (turn) and finally arrives in Piazza Duomo, when the procession ends.

by:

Laura Ciatto

Rosy Di Giacomo

Valeria Morabito

Margie Pirrone