Fireworks at Amalfi

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32604, 12 May 1971, Page 22

Fireworks at Amalfi

(NZP.ARculer—Copfriglit) AMALFI (Italy). An apparently irrepressible desire of the people of Amalfi to explode fireworks has landed them in a row with their bishop (Monsignor Jolando Nuzzi), who considers that letting off hundreds of noisy fireworks during religious ceremonies ts disrespectful and irreligious. So much so, that he refused to take part in two traditional processions in November last in honour of the port's patron, St Andrew. The bishop wrote to the mayor of this ancient town south of Naples pointing out that even an .American magazine had published an article in 1969 describing Amalfi's love of fireworks as excessive.

But it was to no avail. On Christmas Eve last year, as the clock struck midnight. Bishop Nuzzi appeared on the steps of the cathedral as

tradition requires carrying a statue of the baby Jesus . and prepared to bless the f crowd. I He was greeted by a , thunder of exploding fire- ■ crackers, turned pale, and . without blessing anybody, . turned round and re-entered . the cathedral. The crowd, deprived of their annual blessing, boy- . cotted the Christmas mid- , night Mass. This was not all. At the ' feast of the Epiphany, on January 6. the bishop agreed to give the crowd the traditional blessing after a group of university students had distributed pamphlets calling on the people to curb their fireworks. It seemed that al! would go well. An illuminated star of the east was brought down from a hill above Amalfi by a system of pulleys and ended up in front of the Cathedral. As the brightly-lit star landed in the square, the bishop .raised the statue of Jesus and blessed the crowd. No sooner had he finished than there was a series of deafening explosions. Coughing with the smoke, the bishop retreated into the cathedral. The refusal of the people of Amalfi to celebrate Christ- i mas in the dignified way requested by church and civil authorities is not satisfactorily explained. . But one reason is believed i to be local resentment I against the Vatican. I