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PRESS RELEASE (14/08/2013)
Loano celebrates the mid-August holiday with “10,000 lights in the night”, an event organized by the Brotherhood of the Blue Hats with the cooperation of the’Department of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the City of Loano, of the’Local Maritime Office, de The Navy of Loano, of the Marine Baths Union.
Wednesday, August 15, at 9 p.m, ten thousand colorful candles Will be laid in the sea. The initiative, revives an ancient tradition, which has its roots in Loano's seafaring culture. The lighting of the sea and the procession of illuminated boats originated, in the early 20th century. The fishermen and sailors of Loano thus paid homage to the Our Lady of the Visitation, patroness of the sea and sailors.
Loano was originally a village of sailors and fishermen. Sailors would leave their families for months at a time and make their way to distant seas, and on the beach of Loano shipyards built and launched sailing ships, pinches, and leudi. The gulf was a natural harbor, and by the late 1700s, in good weather periods, there were more than a hundred sailing ships waiting to unload their cargo. The link with the sea was maintained over time, and after the war, with the advent of tourism, traditional initiatives were renewed, acquiring new meanings. Families of fishermen and sailors enriched the sea lighting festival with scenic elements. They began to decorate their boats with lights that drew images of the sea, fishing and faith, and after launching their boats they went in procession to the wreck of the steamer ‘San Guglielmo“ that was torpedoed and sunk during World War I. Here they recited the sailor's prayer with great solemnity, and a priest blessed the sea and the sailors. The lighted boats resumed their procession along the shoreline of Loano, and after the ceremony was over, the fishermen pulled their boats ashore on the beach and prepared for another day of work at sea.
Also this year the divers will pose on the wreck of the San Guglielmo a wreath and from the beach will be placed in sea 10,000 colored candles. Each lit candle represents a prayer and an auspicious message.{:}
