SANTÚN

Neither the origin nor the author of these statues is known. They undoubtedly date back to the 17th century, the century of the Counter-Reformation, which in Sicily saw an intense work of re-evangelisation and religious re-education also through sacred representations. The 'santuns', gigantic statues three metres high and representing the twelve apostles, are undoubtedly the legacy of the Spanish tradition that dominated Sicily for centuries and still lives on in some cities of Andalusia, as well as the main attraction of Aidone's Holy Week.
At the first light of sunrise, Saint Peter goes through the streets of the town knocking from house to house to announce the discovery of the empty tomb of Christ, receiving as a gift the offering of a bottle of wine. In the course of the morning, he is joined by the apostles he meets in the streets, thus giving rise to a slow parade through the whole town until the meeting with the last apostle who, receiving the news of Jesus' resurrection, runs to Our Lady, still in mourning, to give her the good news. The ritual is followed by the collective euphoria of the saints who start running and dancing around the town square in joy and celebration.
The santons are carried by the 'santari', members of the confraternity of the church to which the saint belongs, who slip into the statue and see the outside only through the eyelets cut in the robe at belly height. Usually the saints, given their weight, are helped by some of their confreres who assist them in the most demanding phases of the rite. When the santaro is experienced, he enjoys the gait, the walk or run, as well as the bow.