The Historical Parade of the Royal Colony of San Leucio (CE) was held for the first time on July 2, 1976, during the celebrations for the Madonna delle Grazie. The initiative is based on the study of the history of the former Bourbon colony and the desire to raise awareness of it. Since 2010, it has been managed by the Historical Parade Association of the Royal Colony of San Leucio. Today, more than 250 people take part in the parade on the last Sunday in June.
Women are the beating heart of the reenactment, both in the preparation phase throughout the year and as protagonists in most of the scenes of life and work reenacted. Among the main roles are: wife of the administrator of the Royal Colony; elected, together with the men, as Seniors of the people, i.e., elderly people considered worthy of acting as peacemakers and, together with the parish priest, managing civil disputes; wife of the director of the silk factory and employees; peasant women; dancers accompanying the musicians; assistants to the parish priest.
As is well known, the Real Colonia di San Leucio was based on two pillars: meritocracy and equality between men and women in all situations, elements that the parade aims to reflect. The women who parade today are the same ones who, as children, were involved by their families, from the very first editions of the parade, in parading or participating in other activities. Therefore, their current participation is also a way of honoring family traditions and belonging to the community. This sense of belonging drives and motivates them to engage in the reenactment in a variety of roles: as guides for children and younger members, in costume fittings, in the preparation of props, in taking care of details for a specific actress (colors and textures of clothing fabrics, hairstyles, makeup, and accessories), and even in playing a specific part in the procession. Everything is taken care of in detail to reinforce the effect of verisimilitude of the past being reenacted.
The actresses, like the actors, change almost every year to allow all members to participate. This allows many women to take center stage, increasing their desire to leave their mark with their performance. They begin by meticulously studying the movements and bearing of their characters, their roles and their ties to the community of the time, based on available sources. The female members in particular—as confirmed by numerous interviews and public statements—express a need to tell and convey a story of equality.
Publication Date: 2026-06-15