OrderingFamilies,Neighborhoods,andCities 167
sions would take place. Crews scrubbed the cathedral inside and out.^161 The
government suspended the tolls and fees imposed on those coming from the
countryside.^162 Cities themselves took charge of candle production, enlisting
trustworthy men, such as the Brothers of Penance, to make candles or super-
vise their quality. Those in charge erected booths in the main piazza to
sell ‘‘official’’ candles. Anyone who dared smuggle in ‘‘alien’’ or adulterated
candles faced severe penalties.^163
Although ceremonies took place in the ecclesiastical center, the cathedral,
the rites themselves created a special link between the civic community and
its heavenly protectress. As the day of the feast approached, cities further
sanctified the already sacred time. Brescia suspended treasury functions (rati-
ones) for the three days preceding the feast. Severe fines punished those who
would dared defile the occasion by riot or breaking the peace. With the
striking of Terce on the vigil, all shops closed, except those authorized to sell
candles.^164 Horseback riding within the walls was prohibited after None of
the vigil.^165 By that hour, citizens were to be assembling at the duomo, not
gadding about. In the square outside the duomo, an assembly ground was
set up. The Pisa Council of Ancients festooned their loggia with vermilion
drapery; and in the Piazza dei Miracoli, workmen erected the ‘‘tent of the
city,’’ also of vermilion stuff, as a reviewing stand for the marshaling of citi-
zens before the procession to the cathedral.^166
The candle offering in August had two parts. One was the people’s offer-
ing of homage to Mary, the other the city’s candle offering. Homage took
place at Vespers of the vigil, chanted by the bishop and his cathedral clergy.
The candle offering took place on the feast-day morning. Unlike Vespers,
this rite did not require the clergy or bishop, although the cities hoped for
their presence. The podesta and magistrates of Pisa sent an invitation two
weeks before the feast, asking the bishop to grace the ceremonies with his
presence and bring his canons and clergy along to offer candles with the
magistrates.^167 For civil magistrates attendance was obligatory. At Piacenza,
the offering to Saint Mary in August was the magistrates’ only obligatory
ceremony of the year—no exceptions were allowed (sine tenore).^168 As a corpo-
rate act of the commune, the presence of the citizens was essential to both
- Parma Stat.i( 1228 – 55 ), p. 203 , with a 6 s parm. fine for those who dirtied it up afterward.
- As in Pisa Stat.i( 1275 ), pp. 46 – 48 , 51.
- As in Parma Stat.i( 1228 – 55 ), p. 203 , where the fine for alien candles is 100 s. parm.
- Brescia Stat. ( 1273 ), col. ( 121 ); ( 1313 ), 1. 118 , cols. 35 – 36. On special fines, see Vicenza Stat. ( 1264 ),
- Pisa Stat.i( 1275 ), pp. 46 – 48 ;( 1286 ), 1. 154 ,p. 265.
- On the feast of the Assumption at Pisa, see ibid. ( 1286 ), 1. 154 , pp. 263 – 84 ; Pisa Stat.ii( 1313 ),
- 207 , pp. 219 – 25.
- Pisa Stat.i( 1275 ), p. 45 ; repeated in ibid. ( 1286 ), 1. 154 ,p. 263 , and Pisa Stat.ii( 1313 ) 1. 207 ,p.
- Ravenna similarly requested the presence of the bishop and chapter for their large candle offering
on Pentecost: Ravenna Stat., 353 ,p. 167. - Piacenza,Statuta Antiqua Mercatorum Placentiae, 164 – 65.