The most famous religious processions in the world, the Feast of Saint Agatha in Catania in Sisily, Italy took place recently. Sicilians in Italy remember her for her miracles related to Mount Etna eruptions, earthquakes and epidemics affecting Catania.There is also an underlying theme of Sicilian resistance to Roman oppression.
The Festival begins on February 3 with the long procession that goes from the Church of Sant’Agata alla Fornace up to the Cathedral, where the offering of the wax rite takes place. Eleven big candles, representing some local guilds, and the two senate carriages close the procession. In that same evening, ‘a sira’ u tri, a spectacular fireworks show is held in Piazza Duomo.
In the early hours of February 4, after the Messa dell’ Aurora, Dawn Holy Mass, the bust of Saint Agata leaves the safe room inside the Cathedral where it is permanently kept. This is the most favourable moment to the crowd’s anticipation, people are strongly moved and, among their screams and applause, accompanied by religious songs, the procession begins. The Saint and her relics are brought outside the ancient city walls , drawn by a silver carriage.
The procession first moves towards the church of Sant’Agata alla Fornace, where her martyrdom took place, then to Sant’Agata al Carcere, there, an olive tree recalls how the virgin, escaping from the men of Quintianus, managed to feed herself. Running quickly while dragging the heavy carriage up to the “Cappuccini slope” is an ancient tradition. Throughout this procession, the people invoke their Patron Saint: “Tutti devoti tutti, cittadini, viva Sant’Agata”. (Are we all devotees? Townspeople, long live St. Agata!).” And then other fireworks show.
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February 5 is the “peak” of the feast. In the afternoon, the cart leaves Piazza Duomo to tour inside the city. After a long and spectacular fireworks show, the “vara” reaches the cross between “Quattro canti” and the San Giuliano slope. Here an exciting game of endurance precedes, “la corsa del Cordone” a cord pulled by thousands of towns people, if all goes well, that means a good harvest next year. Where the race ends the charming singing of the cloistered Benedictine nuns pays homage to the Saint. Then it is almost a race back to the Cathedral. It’s an emotional time, for all as one can see the happiness on people’s faces for having spent three days with their Patron, but tiredness also appears. However, with their last whisper of a voice, illuminated by the last fireworks afterglow, they still exclaim: “Cittadini, viva Sant’Agata!” (Townspeople, long live Sant’Agata!).
During these three days, the whole town is abuzz for the patron Saint’s Festival, the young Agata, Virgin and Martyr from Catania, whose irresistibly attractive story, can touch every heart. During these days one can find sweets and cakes related to the Virgin’s story in pastry shops of Catania: the cassateddi di Sant’Aita also called mini di Sant’Aita whose shape recalls the saint’s martyrdom as she underwent the cutting off of her breast, for having rejected Quintianus’ love in favour of the Christian faith and the Olivette, small olives.
By- Monica Saxena
