FOLKS AND EVENTS

Catania.

details of "coppi" on the staircase of Caltagirone.
the staircase of Caltagirone with the "coppi" lit up.
the rich "vara" of Madonna della Visitazione.Enna

the statue of Madonna della Visitazione, patron of Enna.

From the 3rd to the 5th of July at Nicolosi there's the second part of the celebrations in honour of Sant'Antonio Abate (the first take place on January 17th). At this time the town recalls the miracle of the saint who, in 1886, stopped the lava flow in the same spot where his statue had been brought in procession by the population that called for his help. The beginning of the cult dates back to 1600, as the manifacture of the wooden statue would suggest; the saint's protection was requested both for cattle raising, one of the resources of the area, and for the menace of mount Etna. People thought that only a saint who has defeated the flames of hell could intercede against them. On Saturday there is the procession of all the fraternities, while on Sunday the statue is taken from the altar and set on its professional array and, at noon, taken around the town streets and to the curch of San Francesco where it stops for blessing of horses and other animals. On Monday the procession resumes and ends in the evening with the saint "running" up to the altar of Sant'Antonio alla Sciara. The celebration ends with fireworks.


There is no precise date for the beginning of the devotion for Santa Margherita patron of Licodia Eubea. Outside the walls of the town castle, on the eastern slope there was a chapel dedicated to the saint. Up to 1621 the parish church was that dedicated to Sant'Antonio Abate, patron of the town. As the town was expanding eastwards, the Archbishop, from whom the town depended ordered tobuild a cathedral to be dedicated to Santa Margherita. In 1693 an earthquake destroyed the castle and cause severe damage to the church, only the painting with the saint's image remained unharmed. This fact was interpreted as a sign and Santa Margherita was named patron of Licodia instead of Sant'Antonio. Town celebrates her feast on 20th.


From the 23rd to the 25th of July and the 1st of August, Caltagirone celebrates San gaicomo who occupies the role of patron since the evening of July 24th 1090. On that occasion the Norman Count Ruggero, who was about to fight the Saracens who ruled over Caltagirone, called for the saint's help (recalling also that the following day was his saint's day) and promised to build a temple in his honour. On the following day the Muslims were defeated and the town became Christian once more. At the beginning the cult was only local, but in the 15th century it grew up involving also the nearby villages after the donation of a precious relic, a piece of bone from the arm of the saint. The relic is carried, during the procession, in a silver case. A suggestive moment of the feast is the lighting of the stairway of Santa Maria del Monte on the evenings of 24th and 25th. Coloured paper candle holders with small candles are set on the 142 steps of the stairway creating a design. On the 23rd there is music and fireworks at the public gardens. On the 24th at 9.30pm the stairway is lit. on the 25th at 8.30pm procession of the saint's relic and simulacrum through the old town and lighting of the steps. On the 1st of August there is the procession of the relic and simulacrum through the new side of the town till the point nearest to where the battle took place in the 1090.


The celebrations in honour of Santa Venera take place to Acireale on the 26th of July. It no longer is the most important religious event of the town but it remains one of the suggestive moments, especially during the procession of the 17th century processional array accompanied by the "candelore" tall pieces of carved and decorated wood carried on shoulder by members of the arts and crafts guilds.

Caltanissetta.
The feast in honour of the Madonna delle Grazie on the 2nd of July is surely the most important for the inhabitants of Gela; thousands of them, as a mater of fact, take part every year in the celebrations. The procession of the "vara" of Madonna is moving and suggestive; many of those who follow the statue are barefoot, as a devotion sign, and carry big candles decorated with flowers. On the last Sunday of the month Campofranco celebrates its patron San Calogero. In the morning the statue of the saint is carried in procession along part of the town streets and the devotees offer bread loves. It is an ancient tradition also in other parts of the island; they are supposed to be, according to Pitrè, "Ex voto" representing human limbs obtained with dough instead of wax. The procession resumes in the afternoon when the statues move through the other half of the town. The final moment is the blessing of bread and its distribution among the thousands of worshipers.
Enna.
Every year, on July 2, at Enna there is an unforgettable feast to celebrate hour Lady of Visitation, the town's patron saint. This is a very old festivity that has its roots in the pagan rites in honour of the goddess Ceres. It is an unique opportunity to take part in the common joy of the towns folks. The most important moment of the celebration is in the afternoon, when the statue of the Virgin, covered with golden gems, is set on the "golden ship", a wonderful processional array enriched with golden decorations and inlays dating from 1500, and it is carried on the shoulders by 216 brethren wearing long white dress. In the past the brethrens carried the statue almostcompletely naked, that's the reason why they are still called "the naked". The statue is carried across the various districts of the town and each of them salutes the procession with the "sarbiata", that is the letting off of fire crackers. Then the procession heads toward the church of Montesalvo where it will meet the statue of S. Elisabetta and S. Zaccaria, which will accompany the Virgin in the church. The festival traditionally ends with a concert and fireworks.
 
 
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