Festival of Saint Agatha (Catania)


The Festival of Saint Agatha is the most important religious festival of Catania, Sicily. It commemorates the life of what is the city's patron saint, Agatha of Sicily. It takes place annually from 3 to 5 February and on 17 August. The earlier dates commemorate the martyrdom of the Catanaian saint, while the latter date celebrates the return to Catania of her remains, after these had been transferred to Constantinople by the Byzantine general George Maniaces as war booty, having then remained there for 86 years.
Sicilians celebrate Saint Agatha for her purported intercession to avert danger during eruptions of Mount Etna, earthquakes, and some epidemics that had affected Catania. There is also an underlying theme of Sicilian resistance to Roman oppression.
The three day festival begins at noon on February 3 with a procession known as “della luminaria”. Cannalori, eleven large candles in baroque gilt casings that proceeds from the Church of St. Agata alla Fornace to the Cathedral of St. Agatha. Each candelora represents one of the medieval guilds. At 3.00 PM, a cross-country race takes place through the streets of town. This is followed in the evening by a concert in the Piazza del Duomo and fireworks.
The next day, after the "Messa dell’Aurora", a reliquary-bust of St. Agatha atop a silver fercola or carriage leaves the cathedral and is pulled through the neighborhoods, passing places associated with the life of the saint. The devoted followers wear the traditional white tunic that covers the body down to the ankles and is tied at the waist with a rope. The celebrations continue through the night. Gaily decorated kiosks sell traditional street food such as arancini and beccafico sardines.
On the 5th, there is again a procession after Mass. The heavy silver carriage is pulled up a steep slope. Successful passage is considered to bode well for the rest of the year.