San Gerardo in Potenza. The Parata dei Turchi

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Gerardo of Potenza, born in Piacenza to a family of noble origins (the Marquises Della Porta), is venerated as a saint of the Catholic Church and is the patron saint of the city of Potenza.

San Gerardo, honored on May 30th, the day of the translation of his relics, is particularly remembered for repelling the invasion of the Turks, who had arrived by navigating the Basento River, with a blinding light. This episode has become the focal point of the celebrations and is renewed each year on May 29th in his honor in the Lucanian capital, with a parade that reenacts the crucial moments of that event. Hundreds of costumed participants take part, and a large crowd enjoys the spectacle.

Three well-animated temporal frames are represented, with costumes painstakingly crafted, footwear, armories, and makeup, dating back to the 1100s, 1500s, and 1800s.

In the first frame, the entrance into the city of Count Alfonso de Guevara is reproduced, the only historical trace of the entire procession officially recognized and collected from the minutes of 1578 by the notary Giovanni Antonio Scafarelli.

The various social classes are depicted, with a large array of nobles consisting of beautiful ladies adorned in sumptuous velvet dresses, lace, and exquisite embroideries, accompanied by elegant dukes and local gentlemen, followed by knights and warriors. Additionally, there is a depiction of a young Saint Gerard, blessing everyone from the deck of his ship.

Next, the great Saracen, nicknamed “Cipollino,” is depicted in an attempt to exorcise the great fear of the invaders. He is surrounded by ranks of chained Turkish slaves and soldiers who stage fake attacks on the attendees, entertaining the children and creating an atmosphere of suspense. The third moment of the parade focuses on the sacred element: the shrine of the Saint carried on the shoulders by the young “carriers.”

The event concludes in the town hall square, where the “iaccara,” a bundle of reeds and wood about twelve meters long and approximately one meter in diameter, weighing about a ton, is carried on the shoulders by volunteers dressed in peasant costumes. It is maneuvered through the coordination of the “iaccari” led by the “capoiaccara,” who gives orders assisted by four helpers. During the Parade of the “iaccara,” a comical figure, seated astride the bundle, addresses the spectators, explaining that the “iaccara” belongs neither to those who carry it nor to those who watch it but belongs to San Gerardo.

At the end of the route, the “iaccara” is raised by arms, climbed by the “capoiaccara,” and set on fire in honor of the Patron Saint, repeating a symbolism typical of pagan rituals, particularly reminiscent of the tradition of Lucanian tree rituals. Given its considerable size and weight, safely maneuvering the “iaccara” through the city streets requires strong cohesion among the carriers, solid experience, and a strict definition of roles. The parade throughout strongly evokes tradition. It features representations of peasant and artisanal society, groups of angels, the welcoming cart, and the captains of the city’s six gates. Additionally, there are flag-wavers, musicians, fire-eaters, jugglers, and acrobats.