TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS

THE CELEBRATION OF THE "SENSA”

The Feast of the Assumption is one of the oldest and most important Venetian celebrations: it takes place every year in May, Ascension Day and it is celebrate the symbolic marriage of Venice with the sea in memory of two important victories in the Venetian navy. The first time in the year 1000 was celebrated in honor of the naval victory of Doge Orseolo Pietro II, who left in 998 to free the Dalmatian Croats and Narentanes. To celebrate the victory was decreed that the day of the Ascension 'sense' in Venetian, was celebrated the event. The second victory came in 1177 when the Doge Sebastiano Ziani greeted at the Basilica of San Marco Pope Alexander III and Frederick Barbarossa thus managed to conclude a peace agreement between the Papacy and the Empire. The Pope, the Doge as a reward for services rendered, presented him with a ring blessed with the revalidation at Venice as the dominion over the seas. From that day on, every year Venetians celebrate the famous ritual of the "marriage of Venice with the sea. The Doge climbed aboard the Bucintoro, (the boat was rowed by Arsenalotti) and followed by a busy parade of decorated boats of all types for a party, reached St. Helena where he was waiting for the blessing of the bishop. Then the Doge, reached the entrance of the harbor, he launched in the water a gold ring, a symbol of union between the Republic of Venice and the sea and the dominion of the city on water. Today the figure of the Mayor replaces the Doge. The Mayor and the Patriarch, along with other civil and religious authorities, arrive by boat to San Nicolò, where the ritual of throwing the golden ring in the waters of Laguna, take place. The event is certainly the celebration that better expresses the intensity of the special relationship between Venice and the sea. Although the pageantry of the event significantly lower than that of past centuries, the choreography is still very impressive. On Ascension Day, in fact, a procession composed of historical ships carrying high city officials including the Mayor, as representative of the city gives, near San Nicolò, a link to the sea means that the bride and Venice a laurel wreath in memory of those lost at sea. Successive procession of boats moored near the basilica where he held a solemn religious ceremony.


		Information:	Comune di Venezia Assessorato al Turismo - Ca' Giustinian San Marco, 1364 30124 Venezia Tel. (+39) 041.5206224 - Fax (+39) 041.2747739 www.comune.venezia.it/turismo



		CELEBRATION OF OUR LADY OF MARINA IN MALAMOCCO The origins of the celebration are lost in time. Popular devotion tells of the discovery of a piece of wood by an inhabitant of Malamocco that brought him home for the fireplace. Three times the log mysteriously disappeared from the house to reappear where it was found. And here is incredibly materialize the image of the Virgin Mary. Thus from the 14th century, commemorates the miracle of the Virgin Mary called "the Zocco", later known as "Madonna of Marina". Each year in July, in addition to initiatives related to religious tradition, are prepared food stands, art exhibitions and crafts, sports, music, dance, theater, fireworks and the obligatory final raffle underlying the splendid Piazza Maggiore and the center of Malamocco village.