Thousands of red rose petals fall from the large oculus of the Pantheon Dome after the 10.30 am Mass on the Day of Pentecost. Once again, this year, the long-awaited event begins on May 19, 2024, at 12.00 pm.
The Fire Brigade at Pentecost 2023 at the Pantheon – photo Facebook @Pantheon.MiC
The firefighters reach the top of the Pantheon Dome, about 43 meters high, and, at 12.00, they start throwing thousands of red rose petals at the faithful through a nine-metre diameter oculus, a traditional ceremony almost 2,000 years old.
At Pentecost, fifty days after Easter, the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and Mary is celebrated. According to The Bible, they were all sitting in the Cenacle Room for the Last Supper. Suddenly, with a loud noise, tongues of fire appeared and rested on the guests. The Holy Spirit made the Apostles speak all languages, so they could spread the Word of the Lord throughout the world, the task entrusted to them by Jesus.
Pentecost at the Pantheon – photo Facebook @Pantheon.MiC
For Christians, roses are the symbol of the Holy Spirit and the red colour recalls the blood Christ shed to redeem humanity.
“The most beautiful relic of ancient Rome, a temple so well preserved that it appears as the Romans must have seen it in their times”
this is how the writer Stendhal described the Pantheon.
Let us enjoy this unique event in this wonderful Monument, that tells us the history (and the stories) of Rome.