Experience Sicily

Tag: feast

  • Orange You Glad

    This weekend in Scillato (Province of Palermo), a medieval village at the foot of the Madonie Mountains, they are celebrating the Sagra dell’Arancia or Orange Festival. It’s the end of *their* orange season–their’s because their altitude makes their citrus season fall later than their neighbors’ down in the “Conca d’oro” of Palermo. The village’s altitude…

  • The Bread Arches of San Biagio Platani

    In the mountain town of San Biagio Platani (Agrigento), they are currently celebrating their Easter feast, “Archi di Pane,” or “Bread Arches.” Annually during this feast, which started on Easter Sunday and lasts until May 3, 2015, artisans and townspeople create elaborate archways using river reeds, willow, asparagus, bay leaf, rosemary, cereals, dates, and bread…

  • Sicily Beats to Its Own Drum

    Bass drummer, during the Festa del Santissimo Crocifisso in Calatafimi-Segesta, Sicily. The “Feast of the Holy Cross” takes place every 5 or 7 years, depending on the devotees’ resources. Processions featuring creative floats and music take place the first 3 days of May. The last Feast was held in 2012. Community-based wind and drum ensembles…

  • Viva Sant’Agata!

    Last night, “cittadini” of Catania (or citizens) packed the streets to pay homage to their patron Sant’Agata. 4-foot tall candles lit the way for the pink-flower-decorated, silver carriage, or fercolo, that carried the Saint’s statue and her relics to all of the important locations where Agatha lived and suffered, so devotees could reflect and pray.…

  • She Gives Them Fever

    Ever since I read “The Stone Boudoir” by Theresa Maggio, I’ve dreamed of going to la Festa di Sant’Agata in Catania. Maggio describes in detail the rituals of the event that is a combination of cultish religious devotion, prayer, folklore, fireworks, and culinary delights. The celebration is two nights and two days long, representing the…

  • San Sebastiano

    Although San Sebastiano lived and died in Rome, in Sicily on January 20, the early Christian martyr is celebrated with fervor in the towns of Acireale (Catania), Tortorici (Messina), and Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (Catania). This photo of the Saint (which I’ve made to look like a painting) was taken by our Experience Sicily local…

  • Our Lady

    On September 15, the town of Terme Vigliatore in Messina province celebrates their patron saint Maria delle Grazie (Our Lady of Grace) with a solemn procession and feast. Maria, or Mary, has many different titles, but they all apply to the mother of Jesus. So, Maria delle Grazie or Mary of the Graces is another…

  • The Feast of Santa Rosalia is Days Away

    The preparations for il Festino for la Santuzza are underway in Palermo.

  • Patron Saint of Fathers and Carpenters

    March 19 is the Festa di San Giuseppe or Saint Joseph’s Day. Legend is that in Sicily and southern Italy during the 10th century, a drought caused a severe famine. The faithful prayed to Saint Joseph to bring rain, and in return, they promised to hold a feast in his honor. Rain and recovery from…