Spugna

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Spugna Guardia Sanframondi - spugna dei battenti.jpg
Spugna

A spugna is an instrument of penance used by some Christians who practice mortification of the flesh. [1] With the word "spugna" literally meaning "sponge", a spugna is made from a circular piece of cork that contains metal studs, metal spikes, or needles. [1] Christians, especially those who are enrolled in a confraternity of penitents, strike the spugna against their chests to repent of sins and to share in the Passion of Christ. [2] Spugna are used in the privacy of one's dwelling, as well as in public Christian processions. [3] When in public, beaters (battenti) cover their faces with capirote in order to not draw attention to themselves as they repent, but to God; these include men, women and children. [4] As those using the spugna sometimes bleed, white wine is poured on top of the spugna to cleanse it and protect the wound from infection. [5]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Italian religious festival bans selfies". Express Digest. Retrieved 8 April 2021. Hundreds of locals in the medieval village of Guardia Sanframondi in the southern region of Campania will gather this week to beat themselves in the chest with corks containing metal spikes. ... During the march, they will pound their chests with 'spugna', a round piece of cork containing needles.
  2. Lanternari, Vittorio (1997). Antropologia religiosa: etnologia, storia, folklore (in Italian). Edizioni Dedalo. p. 297. ISBN   978-88-220-6191-1. Capì che quella spugna in mano al bambino Gesù, era il modello d'una spugna che i battenti dovevano usare per battersi il petto: e che con questo impegno il miracolo del rinvenimento dell'immagine della Madonna (e del giogo agricolo) si sarebbe compiuto, a favore degli abitanti di Guardia.
  3. Nigro, Paola; Monzone, Chiel; Ghirlanda, Elvira M.; Russi, Roberto; Lucia, Carmela; Rotondi, Armando; Vaccara, Stefania La; Paradiso, Giovanna; Park, Moonjung; Convento, Elisabetta; Bernard, Enrico; Bombara, Daniela; Salerno, Vincenzo; Luca, Erri De (2018). Tematiche del "sottosuolo" nella letteratura e cultura italiane: Biblioteca di Rivista di Studi Italiani, anno XXXVI, n. 2, agosto 2018 (in Italian). Anthony Verna. I battenti si percuotono con la cosiddetta spugna, costruita artigianalmente.
  4. Nadali, Giorgio (12 February 2015). I segreti delle religioni (in Italian). Youcanprint. ISBN   978-88-911-7694-3. I battenti sono tutti uomini, mentre qualche flagellante è anche donna. Vi sono anche diversi flagellanti bambini con un cappuccio nero che si flagellano delicatamente le spalle. La spugna consiste in un pezzo di sughero rotondo nel quale sono conficcati tretatré spilli, gli anni di Christo.
  5. Nadali, Giorgio (1 May 2012). Il curioso soprannaturale (in Italian). Lampi di stampa. ISBN   978-88-488-1416-4. Il battente, percuotendosi incessantemente provoca il sanguinamento del petto. Per detergere, disinfettare e mantenere aperta la ferita, alcuni assistenti, tra le fila dei battenti, dispensano del vino bianco sulla spugna.