Santa Domenica Scorrano

Scorrano is a small town in the province of Lecce, known for the grandeur of the celebration of its patron saint: Santa Domenica.

The celebrations are turning 5-7 July, days in which not only is celebrating the whole community of Scorrano but also all the inhabitants of the neighboring towns are involved and attracted by the commemoration of the Saint.

Going back in time, unfortunately, you do not have a tally of data thus allowing some of the origins traced and a well-defined, which is why the reconstruction of his life is most likely the result of the alleged stories and legends handed down. The sources from which you have drawn, as always, followed two strands:
- Latin, according to which the young woman would have lived in Calabria, near Tropea, and then transported in Puglia but only after his martyrdom;
- Greek, so the Holy was born in Calabria, or Asia Minor, in 287 AD and then executed in Nicomedia.

Domenica or Ciriaca (depending on whether you give credit to the tradition of the Latin or Eastern), was martyred in the early centuries of the spread of Christianity, during the reign of Diocleziano. She died in 303 A.D. after being persecuted and condemned to death. At that time, the temporal power had literally banned the observance and worship of Jesus Christ, requiring instead the worship of multiple deities. Domenica has always refused that obligation and rebelled to follow his creed. This led to the death sentence.

The legend that tells of its end is shocking for details related to torture because of which the woman died. Indeed, it is said that the episodes that occurred were really a miracle and led to his conversion to Christianity of the many people who witnessed the torture of women. He was burned at the stake but his body did not burn, so they decided to give it to the lions but these remained impassive in front of his person. The sentence was changed to beheading but, as he passed on the Eastern tradition, did not happen because the woman died shortly before he was beheaded. The Latin sources handed down his body, was transported by angels in Tropea, in Calabria, in the place where his relics are preserved today.

However, regardless of its origins, at a particular time in the history of the community of Scorrano, the Santa decided to intervene to rescue the population afflicted by the plague. At that time (1600) the continuation of this epidemic, sowed death and fear among the population, when one night the Martyr appeared in a dream to an elderly woman. In the dream, Santa Domenica informed her that she had decided to become the Protector of the country and that, from that moment, would have freed people from the disease and it was. From then on, spread a tradition deeply felt among the population (especially from those who were healed from the deadly effects of the plague), which is to turn an oil lamp on the balcony of his home, first of all as a sign of gratitude and then as a demonstration and a tangible sign of the grace received. And 'from this practice that originated the tradition of the illuminations, which have become the symbol of the party that over time they replaced the oil lamps. In addition, recently, there has also been the inclusion of more modern methods of lighting: LED lamps, micro lights flash until you get to the inevitable fireworks, giving the party a touch of showmanship and emphasize that, in recent years went beyond regional borders.

On the morning of 6, you can watch the procession, which starts in the early hours of the day just by the church dedicated to the Holy. A particular interest arouses the behavior of many of the faithful who, with their donations of objects in gold and precious variety, thereby manifest devotion to the patron saint. Another fact worth mentioning is that which occurs in the moments before the procession, the auction, during which it is decided who will be the 4 men who will lead the canopy (containing the statue) in procession. Generally the rod is controlled by a veteran who writes down in a notebook all the offers, the raises and contracting. Defined this practice, the parade starts and goes through all the streets of the town, with the following, as well as the faithful, even the band. It ends after a few hours, roughly around lunch time, with the return in the same church where she had left and with the deposition of the statue in the main altar.