Sicily's festivals are an array of lively music, colorful costumes, and sumptuous food. Celebrations include homage to patron saints, historical events, and mythology. Religiously, the feast days observed over most of the island include: St. Rosalia, San Giuseppe, St. Agatha, SS. Cosmos & Damian, St. Sebastian, St. Lucy and the Virgin Mary although each area has their own patron saints they pay homage too. Easter season is solemn in tone as participants will recreate the last hours of Christ. Funeral marches and wailing women renact the suffering the Madonna endured grieving for the loss of her Son.
Historical pageants include festivities that honor the legendary founders of Messina...Grifone and Mata. The larger-than-life figures are one of the highlights in the three-day festivites which commemorate the Assumption on August 15th. Also making its way through the streets of Messina is the "VARA" a very tall but decorative construction that is adorned with flowers and statues and holds the Virgin Mary in its center.
On August 13th & 14th each year in Piazza Armenia, medieval costumes and a magnificent joust is held to remember the Norman victory in driving the Arabs from Sicily after two hundred years of dominant rule. The festa "Tatarata" celebrated in Casteltermini not far from Argrento also recalls this victory over the Arabs with the Parade of the Comparisoned Horses.
Festivals celebrating Food are also held throughout Sicily. Two that immediately come to mind is the Festival of Almond Blossoms held in Argrigento around Carnevale time. This traditional festival is comprised of parades of the sicilian carts, a parade with participants in historical costumes, band concerts and fireworks. The Festival of Sword-fish is celebrated in Bagnara (Reggio Calabria) in July. Swordfish (bagnarese) which is abundant in this area is cooked and offered to residents of the area and tourists.
I hope I have peaked your interests into the Festivals of Sicily. Listed below is a partial list of festivals for the island with more to come as I hear about them. Hope you enjoy..:-)) - Capucina
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| Piana degli Albanesi - Epiphany * | |
| Acireale - Feast of Saint Sebastian * | |
| Catania - Feast of Sant'Agata * | |
| Agrigento (Valley of the Temples) - Annual Almond Blossom & Folklore Festival | |
| Acireale, Sciacca, & Mezzojuso - Carnevale * (Acireale Carnevale, it has been said is one of the most famous carnivals in Sicily. | |
| Salemi, Borgetto, San Biagio, Platani & Alcamo - Altars of Bread & Feast of San Giuseppe (All of Sicily). | |
| Prizzi (Palermo) - The Dance of the Devils, Sanfratello - The Giudei, Trapani - The Mysteries, Marsala - The Veronicas, Enna - Good Friday, and Aidone - The Santoni * | |
| Monreale, Calatafimi - Feast of the Holy Cross | |
| Siracusa - Festival of Santa Lucia delle Quaglie | |
| Trecastagni - Garlic Festival | |
| Troina - Laurel Festival | |
| Taormina - Sfilata del Carretto (Festival of the Sicilian Carts) | |
| Sferracavallo - Feasts of SS. Cosimo & Damian * | |
| Palazzolo Acreide - Feast of San Paolo * | |
| Aci Trezza - Festival of the Fisherman ** | |
| Agrigento - Feast of St. Calogero * | |
| Siracusa - Festival of the Sea | |
| Enna - Madonna of the Visitation * | |
| Palermo - Feast of Santa Rosalia * Annual Mountain procession to Mt. Pellegrino | |
| Caltagirone - Feast of St. James (Also known as the Festival of Light because of the Vigil oil lamps lined on the stairway of the Santa Maria del Monte. The illumination forms highly decorative patterns against the ceramic tiles of the stairway. The patterns are changed every year depending on the placement of the oil lamps on the stairs. * | |
| Piazza Armerina - Palio of the Normans * | |
| Messina & Randazzo - Madonna of the Assumption * | |
| Gangi - Festa della Spiga (Corn Festival). Folkdancing, music and fireworks along with a procession in historical costumes. ** | |
| Siracusa-Pilgimage of Madonna della Lacrime ** | |
| Calasacibetta - Sagra di Buon Riposo is a food and folk festival. | |
| Catania - Festival of Maria SS Bambina. This festival features boats in procession and a Fisherman's Festival | |
| Tindari - Birth of the Virgin. This festival is also celebrated throughout the island. | |
| Altavilla Milicia - Madonna of the Milicia * | |
| Sferracavallo - Feasts of SS. Cosmas & Damian * | |
| Polizzi Generosa - Feast of the Hazelnuts ** | |
| Petralla Sottana - Sagra delle Castagne (Chestnut Festival) | |
| Zafferana Etnea - Autumn feasts on foods made with chestnuts, honey, mushrooms and wine. ** | |
| All Saints Day (Ognissanti) - Observed throughout Sicily. | |
| Il giorno del Morti (Day of the Dead) throughout Sicily families will visited the cemeteries of loved ones. Special cookies known as "Bones of the Dead" are made for this day. | |
| Feast Day of St. Barbara * | |
| Custonaci, Scicli - Nativity Tableau * | |
| * Italy Italy Magazine | |
| ** Sicily - Cadogan |
