It has previously only been halted by two world wars. But the pandemic has meant this Sunday (July 3rd) will be the first time in three years that a vivid legacy of Manchester's Little Italy will again fill the city's streets. A thousand people are expected to take part.
Since 1890 the Madonna del Rosario procession has been held every year - a colourful celebration of religion and culture. The only years it did not happen were during the First World War and from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, when many respected local Italians were interned after Mussolini sided with Hitler’s Germany.
The procession was born out of the creation in 1888 of the Manchester Italian Catholic Society, the result of a local priest’s desire to form a dedicated group to support and educate Italian families living in the city.
Families had moved - mainly from Lazio and Campagna - to find jobs in Manchester’s booming cotton mills and industrial workplaces. In the late 1800s there was an influx of Italian immigrants from the North and South of Italy to the district of Ancoats near Manchester city centre, an area which was later to become known as Ancoats’ Little Italy.
Back in their homeland almost every city and village had a patron saint and a special day to celebrate them. So, when the Italians took part in their first Whit Friday Procession in 1890 in Manchester it must have seemed like home from home.
The Procession, which later became known as the ‘Festa Della Madonna Del Rosario’, is headed by men from the Italian community who carry a statues of the Madonna adorned with white lilies, The Calvary, St. Anthony and banners. Women walk in Italian dress and children who have recently taken their First Holy Communion also take part.
Gina Rea of The Manchester Italian Association said: "This year we will be joined by the Right Reverend Bishop John Arnold from the Diocese of Salford. Dignitaries include representatives of The Italian Consulate, The Lord Mayor of Manchester and the Ceremonial Mayor of Salford.
"The Our Lady of Revelation statue will be joining the procession again this year all the way from Rome. Parishes taking part will be St Michael’s. St Patrick’s. St Malachy’s. St Chad's. St Clare's. Our Lady of Grace. St Anne’s and St Brigid's.. The Salford & Shrewsbury Lourdes Groups and The Men of St Joseph.
"Bands include Oldham Pipe Band. Oldham Brass Band. Accrington Pipe Band, St Johns Brass band Droylsden and the Bury Fire Choir. We are looking forward to our special day after such a long time due to the pandemic. We hope people will come out to support our event like years gone by. A number of our older members who we have lost will be remembered this year - always in our hearts."
Lorraine Taurasi, from the Manchester Italian Association, said:Lorraine Taurasi, from the Manchester Italian Association, said: “The Madonna del Rosario procession is one of the oldest surviving processions in the country and it’s a fantastic celebration of Italian culture in Manchester.
“Our walk is in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary, which is why the Madonna heads up the procession. We’re proud to be walking with her through the city centre.
“Our walk is in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary, which is why the Madonna heads up the procession. We’re proud to be walking with her through the city centre."
The procession will start from St Michael's RC Church in George Leigh Street, Ancoats at 1.30pm and is expected to reach St Peter’s Square by 2.30pm, and leave at 3.15pm returning to the church at 4.15pm.
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