The Holy Week Processions in Mendrisio – Good Friday

The Good Friday Procession in Mendrisio is the most solemn event of the Historic Processions. In the past, it was also known as the Entierro (Spanish for "funeral" or "burial"), as it commemorates the procession of the Dead Christ and the mourning of Our Lady of Sorrows following the Crucifixion. Believed to be the older of the two processions, it is distinguished by its reflective and contemplative character.

As night falls, the procession winds through Mendrisio's historic town centre, illuminated by the evocative glow of the Trasparenti. Accompanied by marching bands, confraternities, participants in historical costume, and the Instruments of the Passion, the procession transforms the town into a moving expression of faith, art, and collective memory.

In the past, the Good Friday Procession was organized by the Order of the Servants of Mary, a Catholic religious order devoted to Mary the Virgin of Sorrows, while the Holy Thursday Procession was organized by the Confraternity of the Holy Sacrament, an association of lay people.
Today, both processions are organized by the Foundation “Processioni Storiche di Mendrisio”, with the support of the Municipality of Mendrisio.

The procession reenacts the funeral of Christ and serves as a profound collective act of faith, offering the community a moment of reflection and contemplation on the mystery of his death and sacrifice.

“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' When he had said this, he breathed his last.” (Gospel of Luke 23: 44-46)

Christ is represented lifeless in a wooden statue that evokes the solemnity of his funeral. Of Baroque origin, the sculpture is documented as early as 1670 and was repainted in 1723. The vivid red wounds of the scourging and the lance piercing emphasize the physical suffering endured during the Passion with striking realism.

A central figure of the Good Friday Procession is Mary the Virgin of Sorrows, the mother of Jesus, who traditionally brings the procession to a close. Her sorrow symbolizes the suffering of every mother who witnesses the pain of her child. On her chest is a heart pierced by seven swords, representing the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin, the most poignant of which is witnessing the crucifixion of her Son.

"This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." (Gospel of Luke 2: 34-35)

Children take part in both processions. On Holy Thursday, they portray various figures from the Passion, while on Good Friday they wear the robes of the confraternities, carrying the traditional lanterns, or dress as angels bearing a horizontal cross and a robe symbolizing the Holy Shroud. Since the late nineteenth century, some have also carried smaller versions of the Instruments of the Passion; today, these emblems are borne by young girls dressed in white who walk in front of the statue of the Dead Christ.

The tradition of carrying lanterns during the Good Friday Procession dates back several centuries and was probably introduced by the Servite friars from Spain. Made of paper, the lanterns take a variety of forms, including stars, globes, crosses, and pyramids. Because of the delicate technique used in their construction (further explained in the story on the Holy Thursday Procession), they are particularly fragile and can easily be damaged by bad weather. 

The earliest lanterns depicted the Instruments of the Passion, while later examples portrayed scenes from the Way of the Cross. Over time, local artists such as Giovanni Battista Bagutti and his son Abbondio Bagutti transformed them into remarkable works of devotional art, a tradition still preserved today.

Alongside the lanterns, the procession features the Instruments of the Passion, a collection of objects that recall the suffering and death of Christ. These range from simple symbols, such as the dice with which the Roman soldiers cast lots for Jesus' tunic, to powerful emblems of the Gospel like the thirty silver coins received by Judas for betraying Jesus and the crown of thorns placed on Jesus' head by the Roman soldiers to mock him.

Several brass bands accompany the procession, marching at the beginning, the centre, and the end of the parade. Their music lends rhythm, solemnity, and emotional depth to the reenactment of Christ's Passion.

Each year, the two processions attract around 10,000 visitors from across Switzerland, Italy, and beyond. Their organization relies on the enthusiastic commitment of hundreds of volunteers of all ages, whose dedication helps preserve and pass on this extraordinary living tradition, in 2019 recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

To learn more about the preparations, the "Trasparenti", and the Holy Thursday Procession, explore the first part of this two-part series: The Holy Week Processions in Mendrisio – Holy Thursday (Funziun di Giüdee).