| This solemn ceremony, rich in historical and
cultural meaning, but also of sportsmanlike significance (given
that in its context the lots are drawn to determine the order
in which the jousting cavaliers will enter the field) takes
place on the evening of the eve of the joust of the Quintana;
participating in it, other than the communal group with the "Magnifico
Messere", that is the city's mayor, a representative from
all of the Sestieri. In basis of the Ascolan Statutes of 1377,
it took place on occasion of the feast of Sant'Emidio, with
a procession that went from the Palazzo del Capitano in piazza
del Popolo and went towards piazza Arringo and the cathedral.
In the procession marched: 1) pages and musicians with the standard,
2) elders, 3) councilors of the Order, 4) rectors, 5) other
officials, 6) corporations of the 12 principal Arts (doctors,
lawyers and procurators, merchants, plagerii, furriers, shoemakers,
builders, carpenters, stoneworkers, weavers, smiths, cotton
workers) with lit candles, 7) the commoners (Statutes, Communal
Statutes, Lib. III, Rubr. 6). Still today, the representatives
of the antique arts and trades participate in the ceremony of
the Offering of the Candles. Offering a candle for each Art
to the Bishop, after which the mayor of the city offers a large
candle in the name of the City. |
