One of the iconic elements of the feast of Sant’Agata–and lighter ones too–is the Minna di Sant’Agata (or Minna di Sant’Aita in Sicilian), or Saint Agatha’s Breast, a pastry that you’ll find this time of year made and eaten in honor of the saint. I ate this sweet ricotta-filled pastry covered with layers of marzipan…
Tag: agata
Agatha Prayed Louder
Christianity was illegal during Agata’s life in the early 3rd Century AD. So, when she refused the advances of the Roman prefect Quintianus, he arrested her and condemned her to a brothel as punishment. Having sworn herself to God, she protested participating in the activities of the brothel. As a result, Agata was thrown into…
Sant’Agata Inspires Community in Catania
Catania’s faithful engage in back-breaking activities to illustrate their devotion and honor their patroness, Sant’Agata, during these days of the feast. Through rituals, they emulate her suffering over three days of torture. Meanwhile, the “cittadini” also help each other and are kind and communicative with each other to get through the work. For example, to…
Celebrating Saint Agatha in Sicily
Viva Sant’Agata! For the next three days in Catania, Sicily’s second largest city, devotees of Sant’Agata will feverishly celebrate the virgin martyr who is identified by iconography where she is carrying her breasts on a plate. The city’s patroness (pictured as Roman soldiers attempted to burn her at the stake in this painting photographed in…
Today Women Claim the Streets
There’s no doubt that men dominate the annual activities of Catania’s Feast of Sant’Agata. The rituals that I’ve explained over the past few days are designed to display devotees’ physical strength and fortitude in tribute to the virgin martyr – – through expressions of traditionally male strength. However, in the past few years, women have…
The Feast of Sant’Agata, Day 3
My takeaway from the Festa di Sant’Agata in Catania last year was that there was a pure sense of fraternity, community, and hope among the “cittadini.” The faith that followers have for their patroness was so inspirational. And their faith in each other was as well. Taking a long view (and a New Yorker’s view),…
The Feast of Sant’Agata, Day 2
Last night, Catania’s Piazza del Duomo, the main city square, was jammed with onlookers awestruck by the magnificent fireworks display choreographed to symphonic music. Last year, when I witnessed it, my breath was taken away by the magnitude of the presentation. It was unlike any other pyrotechnic display I have seen! Simply stupendous! Today at…
The Feast of Sant’Agata, Day 1
Word spread throughout Sicily about the brutality that Agatha endured and how she stood strong in her Christian faith through it all (as recounted in the last two days’ posts). Over time, her cult grew. Folklorists will tell you that the feverish devotion for Agatha is rooted in local citizens’ ancient devotion to the virgin…
The Legend of Sant’Agata or Saint Agnes (Saint Agatha), Part 2
This 1786 painting by Mariano Rossi (1731-1807), The Martyrdom of Saint Agatha (on display in the Museo Civico at Castello Ursino in Catania), gives us a glimpse into the fate of our beloved Christian patroness. To recap from yesterday’s post, after the beautiful virgin Agatha refused the advances of the Roman prefect Quintianus, he arrested…
The Legend of Sant’Agata or Saint Agnes, Part 1
Sant’Agata was a virgin martyr who died in 251 AD. Legend is that she was the beautiful daughter of a wealthy family from Catania (as depicted in the emblem, pictured, worn by followers during her feast). A faithful Christian, Agatha (or Agnes) swore herself to God. Important to know, during her lifetime, Christianity was illegal…