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St. Agathas Feast in Catania Italy

by

Michele De Capitani

Celebrations have taken place for centuries and are meant to remind people of St. Agathas martyrdom. The saint was born in Catania in 235 A.D., in the period of the persecutions of Christians, and it is because of her Christian faith that Agatha was arrested, tortured and laid on burning embers. Agatha died praying in 251 A.D. The following year an eruption of the volcano Etna threatened the city, and people, trying to stop the lava flow, placed the Saints veil in front of the flow, which stopped immediately. For this reason Agatha was canonized and proclaimed patron Saint of Catania.

Immediately Saint Agatha became an object of worship, but the great celebrations that take place nowadays are supposed to have begun only in the 14th century. These celebrations, with the passing of time, have become an important religious and folkloristic event, which includes solemn ceremonies, historical parades, pyrotechnical shows and a fair, and they follow every year precise rituals. Celebration begins at the end of January, but it is in February, in particular between the 3rd and the 5th (the day when the Saint died), that the climactic events take place. On the 3rd February visitors can watch the procession for the offering of candles: people wearing historical costumes and two 18th centurys carriages go by through the streets. In the procession 11 candelore, cannot miss.

Candelore are wooden, richly decorated constructions containing large candles, and they represent the citys ancient guilds of craftsmen. At the end of the day, a pyrotechnical show (which is particularly meaningful, being Saint Agatha the fire patron) takes place. On the 4th February people meet the Saint for the first time: her relics (preserved in a casket and in a silver trunk containing her skull and thoracic cage), indeed, are taken from the Cathedral, loaded on a fercolo and carried in procession through the places that remind us of the martyrdom. The whole construction, including the reliquary, might weigh up to 30 quintals, and 4000 or 5000 people wearing a typical costume (a white robe with a belt on the hips, a black velvet cap and white gloves) carry it: the procession is certainly a unique show. The fercolo is brought back to the cathedral, where, the following day, a pontifical high Mass is celebrated. In the afternoon there is a new procession through other areas of the city. A particularly important moment is the passage of the fercolo through San Giuliano street, which is characterised by a dangerous inclination: carrying the heavy structure on this street, people give evidence of their courage. Another pyrotechnical show, at night, closes the celebrations.

Tourists going to Catania to watch this peculiar procession will also be given the possibility to taste some typical sweets, which take inspiration from some moments of the Saints martyrdom, such as St. Agathas breast (little cassatas, i.e. ricotta and candied fruit cakes, decorated with a candied cherry, which reminds us of the moment when her breast was torn away), and St. Agathas olives, green, almond, covered with sugar cakes (according to the tradition, while she was escaping from the roman soldiers, St. Agatha bent down and saw an olive tree arising, which hid her and satisfied her hunger).

Discover this typical religious and folkloristic feast. Hundreds of thousands of people go to Catania to take part in St. Agathas celebrations, thus we suggest that you book a cheap hotel in Catania as soon as possible.

Tickets: free event

Date: 4th January 12th February 2009

Location: Catania, Palermo

This article was written by Michele De Capitani with support from

accommodation in Catania

for any information, please visit

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or for travel insurance visit

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St. Agathas Feast in Catania Italy