Festa del Carmine

IIn 1648, a group of Carmelite friars established themselves near the Santa Croce al Mercato church in San Severo and began spreading the veneration of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel. These friars exhibited a painting to the public, a copy of the renowned Madonna Bruna of Carmine Maggiore in Naples, initiating solemn celebrations in honor of the Blessed Virgin, including fireworks displays.

The enthusiasm for this new cult quickly spread among the inhabitants of San Severo, becoming one of the most popular Marian cults in the city. In 1652, the Carmelite friars left their small convent, but thanks to the fervent support of the faithful, the cult continued to thrive seamlessly. In 1684, a confraternity, largely composed of artisans, obtained the diocese's approval to take responsibility for the church, committing to its restoration and improvement. As a result, the celebrations in honor of the Blessed Virgin proceeded without interruptions during the 17th and 18th centuries.

In 1790, a prestigious wooden simulacrum of the Madonna del Carmine arrived from Naples, expertly sculpted by the brothers Michele and Gennaro Trillocco based on a design by the renowned artist Giuseppe Sanmartino. This new simulacrum replaced the previous venerated painting and was placed with great magnificence within an 18th-century marble frame. Furthermore, they initiated the tradition of concluding the liturgical festivities with a solemn procession through the city streets, during which the statues of Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint Simon Stock were also carried in procession.

Originally, the procession followed a route within the city known as the "inner route," but during the 20th century, it was moved to the "outer route," the main procession route in the city. Additionally, fireworks displays continued to be organized to celebrate the passage of the Madonna through the city's main gates.

In the 1980s, during a period of episcopal oversight of the confraternity, the traditional procession was suspended, although liturgical celebrations at the church continued. However, in 1993, the tradition of the procession was finally reinstated. Even today, the festival is celebrated in a substantially unchanged manner, beginning with a solemn novena. On July 16th, or a day shortly before the festival, the bishop celebrates a grand Pontifical Mass, usually held outdoors in Largo Carmine since 2013. Throughout the day, numerous Masses are celebrated at the church, and at noon, a special prayer is recited to the Blessed Virgin of Carmel. In the late afternoon, the procession takes place, accompanied by a music band and a large crowd of faithful. In various neighborhoods of the city, traditional fireworks displays are ignited in honor of the Madonna statue. At the end of the procession, the statue of the Madonna is returned to the Carmine church, where a scenic representation and a fireworks display simulate the burning of the church's bell tower.

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