In Vastogirardi, the beginning of July is marked by important religious festivities. July 1 and 2 the Madonna delle Grazie is celebrated, with the evocative performance of the Flight of the Angel, a rite that combines faith and spectacle.
The Flight of the Angel, introduced in 1911 by Vincenzo Nicola Liberatore, originates from outside traditions and was conceived for the inauguration of the Church of Our Lady of Grace, which was enlarged through the initiative of Liberatore himself. To amaze the villagers, he had a pulley system installed between the church and a house across the street, allowing a little girl to “fly” suspended in the air. Despite initial skepticism, the first Flight was performed by Liberatore’s daughter Maria Carmela and was a success. However, the performance was not repeated immediately due to Liberatore’s departure for the Americas. It was not until 1921 that the event was revived and, after further interruptions, became an established tradition.
The Angel is always impersonated by a girl between the ages of four and six, dressed in an ornate tunic and wings. A leather and velvet harness secures her to a steel cable about 40 meters long, allowing her to make the journey several times, just a few meters above the ground. The Angel flies from the balcony of a house to the statue of Our Lady, displayed for the occasion. A sturdy rope, maneuvered by experienced men, slides it along the cable, while a band accompanies each move.
On the evening of July 1, the Angel, dressed in white, performs three flights: in the first he recites a prayer, in the second he scatters incense, and in the third he throws flower petals toward the Madonna and the audience. On the morning of July 2, the scene is repeated with the Angel in a heavenly robe and an additional flight, during which he offers a gold necklace to the Virgin, donated by her family.
The representations precede the religious processions. On the evening of July 1 the statue of Our Lady returns to her church, while on July 2 it is taken to the church of St. Nicholas, where it remains until the feast of the patron saint. In both processions, the transport of the statue, adorned with jewelry donated by the faithful, is entrusted to the women of the village.