On the afternoon of Maundy Thursday, the streets of Verges begin to buzz with visitors. They know that to see the theatrical performance, they need to purchase tickets in advance.
The Manages Parade on Maundy Thursday Afternoon
Before describing the first public act of the Verges Procession, it’s worth noting the unique name given to the Roman soldiers: the Manages.
The phonetic shift from “manaies” (a common term elsewhere) to “manages” is not a typical dialectal feature of the region, and its origin remains a mystery. The uniqueness doesn’t stop there. The people of Verges add their own touch by using the feminine article, referring to them as “les manages,” further setting this tradition apart.
At five o’clock in the afternoon, the sharp beat of drums and the sound of trumpets announce that the Manages are emerging from their headquarters. Their impressive presence officially kicks off the public events. The parade consists of 48 men, a number determined by the available costumes.
Crucially, the number of Manages must always be a multiple of four to accommodate their complex choreography, which includes moments where they split into rows of four and march in opposite directions.
The Formation Includes:
- 6 Captains who move up and down the ranks, controlling the pace.
- 2 young standard-bearers
- 1 adult standard-bearer accompanying the drummers.
- 2 standards featuring the eagle symbol and the Latin inscription SPQR (Senatus Populusque Romanus), added in 1995.
- 4 trumpets
- 6 drummers
- 1 bass drum, a recent addition.
After parading through The Little Square (“La Placeta”), the Manages proceed to collect the “mysteries” (religious scenes or figures) one by one from their respective neighbourhoods. They escort these mysteries to the Church, where they will remain until they join the main Procession at night.
The first stop is the schoolyard to collect the “Pistolets.” Here, they perform their choreography again to the rhythm of trumpets and drums before continuing their journey through Verges to gather all the mysteries and escort them to the parish church.
Afterwards, the formation dissolves, and all participants head home for a meal. The night will be long and potentially cold, so they must be prepared, often applying ointment to their legs to ward off the chill.
Last updated: April 7, 2026
