It’s amazing what you can find out about a place where you have lived for 50 odd years.
Either yesterday or Sunday - I’m not sure which but most probably Sunday - there was a religious procession through the centre of Manchester. It was an Italian event: la Festa della Madonna del Rosario.and it is apparently one of the oldest surviving processions in the UK. Who knew?
The Madonna Del Rosario procession, which was started by the city’s Italian community in 1888, began on George Leigh Street, once known as little Italy after the Italian immigrant community who settled there. I understand it finished in St Ann’e Square.
Although originally started as a celebration of Italian identity, the procession was joined by people from across Manchester’s Catholic churches, reflecting the city’s Irish, Polish, Indian, Philippines and African communities.
It ."celebrates the culture and traditions of families who migrated from Italy, and their contributions to the city.
This year’s event is supposed to be especially significant with the return of the historic St Michael’s banner, a treasured piece of Manchester’s Italian heritage that has undergone a remarkable restoration by the BBC’s The Repair Shop.
More than 100 years old, the banner has been part of the community’s story for generations, carrying the traditions of Ancoats’ Little Italy through the decades.
After months of expert conservation work, it was revealed for the first time during the weekend’s procession.
The procession brings together churches, families and communities from across Manchester, reflecting the city’s rich cultural diversity while honouring the Italian community that helped shape Ancoats.
Participants from Irish, Polish, Indian, Filipino and African Catholic communities will join civic leaders, pipe bands and association members as they make their way through the city centre.)
And adding to the occasion, the BBC’s The Repair Shop team was supposed to be filming throughout the day as part of the banner’s restoration.
And the is has been going on for all those years and I knew nothing about it.
World Cup fever seems to have been taking hold of our leaders. There’s Mr Trump protesting about a red card … and having it cancelled. This has provoked a number of cartoons.
And our PM did his bit of interfering:
“Keir Starmer intervened to oppose Fifa’s plan to move England kick-off time
PM stepped in over proposal to shift World Cup match to an earlier time, amid concerns it would benefit Mexico.”
Oh dear! Someone needs to remind them that it’s just football, just sport!
The Tour de France has gone home to fierce wildfires in the South East of the country. Parts of Spain, Italy and Greece have also been also burning. Yesterday’s stage of the Tour went ahead despite the fires but spectators were not allowed at the finish. Tadej Pogacar took the yellow jersey from Jonas Vingegaard. I’ve not yet found out what has gone on today. I’ll watch the summary this evening.
Meanwhile, here’s a little joy in a troubled world:
Gaza’s musicians reopen bomb-shattered conservatory – in tents
Even though most of their instruments have been destroyed, teachers are restarting classes, using music to give relief to traumatised people
Here’s a link to an article about it.
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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