WTI Magazine #26    2014 Apr, 18
Author : folclore.it      Translation by:

While the procession with the statue of the Madonna Addolorata takes place, the "Vattienti" (the verb "vattere" in Calabrese dialect means "to hit": "the vattienti" are those who hit) through the streets of the small town, self-inflicting shots with a piece of cork which is called "cardu" (thistle), in which they have previously placed, stuck in the wax, 13 pieces of glass that protrude for a few millimeters.

The Vattienti have their heads wrapped in a black cloth and a crown which has no spines but is a branch of "sparaconga", often very tender, which is worked in such a way as to form a crown; they wear a pair of shorts to leave uncovered their thighs.

Each of them is connected with a string at the "Ecce Homo" (a companion), and has a red cloth that from the waist goes down to the ankles.

With the tools of penance, called "la rosa e il cardu" formed by cork pads fixtures with pieces of glass, the Vattienti hit with rhythmic movements their own thighs and calves and then pass the rose wet of their blood on the chest of their "Ecce Homo".

They roam the streets mixed with the procession, and when they are close to the statue of the Madonna, they make the sign of the cross, they hit themselves and then pour their blood to the feet of the Virgin.