THE PARADE (Il Corteo)

It is the night between November 1st and 2nd. Legend has it that the spirits of the departed roam freely among the living, forming a macabre procession of the dead; shrouded in black cloaks and hoods and illuminated by the faint glow of a lit candle, these wandering souls traverse the village streets from midnight until dawn to complete a journey of penance and return to their homes. On this very night, the legend intertwines with the story of Barbara—a wife and mother widowed a year prior—and her son Ruggero, who has returned to the village after a long absence to surprise her.