San Giuseppe's Ride in Scicli, the complaints from Lav of Ragusa

LAV Ragusa intervenes decisively on the Cavalcata di San Giuseppe in Scicli, drawing attention to an event that, while celebrated for its folkloric value and the art of flower decoration, in the association's view entails serious forms of distress for the horses involved.

According to the organization, despite official reassurances, the equines are subjected to practices and conditions incompatible with their ethology:

- Harnessing: the animal's head is completely constrained, in a completely unnatural way.

- The terror of fire: the passage near the bonfires (the traditional pagghiari) causes an extremely high level of stress.

- The siege of the crowd: forced physical contact and a continuous noise violate the minimum principles of welfare.

The association makes a formal appeal to the Church and the Diocese of Noto, which sponsor the event, urging a deep reflection on the meaning of the festival in relation to respect for creation and animals.

“At a historical moment when the roar of bombs annihilates neighboring peoples and forces thousands of refugees to flee, the use of fireworks and firecrackers is an insult to peace,” declares LAV Ragusa.

“It is unacceptable for the Church to allow a religious festival to turn into a simulation of sound warfare. We ask for consistency with the message of Saint Francis and the Laudato Si' Encyclical: respecting creation means respecting the sensitivity of animals and the pain of conflict victims.

On an operational level, LAV Ragusa puts forward three requests addressed to the Mayor of Scicli and the organizers:

- Introduction of strict limits on harnessing, with independent veterinary checks before and during the parade.

- Total elimination of firecrackers and fireworks, to be replaced with silent light shows, in a sign of respect for animals and for those suffering due to wars.

- Removal of bonfires from the horses' path, to reduce the risks of accidents and burns.

“We are not against the roots of Scicli,” concludes LAV Ragusa, “but we believe that a city aspiring to cultural excellence must know how to evolve. A celebration is only such if no one suffers: neither the animal under the weight of the mantle, nor the man under the weight of the bombs.”

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