Catania and the veneration of the patron saint Sant'Agata
There is an indissoluble bond between the people of Catania and the patron saint of the city, St. Agata. The three days of celebrations in February, worthy of the title of Ethno-Anthropological Heritage, make the festival among the most popular in the world, attracting over one and a half million people to the city, deserving the title of ethno-anthropological asset
The Saint meets the people of Catania following a rigid protocol which involves the procession of the reliquary bust through the streets of the city aboard the fercolo or "vara", moved by the strength of the devotees who tow it by pulling two 130 meter long cords.
The celebrations begin with the suggestive "offering of the wax" which starts from the church of Sant'Agata alla Fornace (Piazza Stesicoro) and ends in the Cathedral, in Piazza Duomo, where in the evening the spectacular fire game of the "Sira o tri" is held. ”. The day of February 4th opens with the Dawn Mass which precedes the "external tour" (giro dei viddani) where the fercolo is preceded by the "candelore".
Among the most exciting moments, the moment in which the caravan reaches Piazza Carlo Alberto (fera or luni) should be noted, stopping in front of the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Carmine before reaching Piazza Stesicoro where the most characteristic moment of the day takes place: the Acchianata de' Cappuccini, where between two rows of devotees, the fercolo is hauled at a run along the slope that leads to the Church of San Domenico. The fercololo will then return to the Cathedral accompanied by fireworks.
The internal tour begins at sunset on February 5th and seven hundred devotees dressed in the traditional "sack" tow the fercolo from Piazza Duomo to the Church of Sant'Agata al Borgo. Here a majestic fireworks display is held (u focu do Buggu) after which the caravan descends back to the Quattro Canti and then engages in the tiring "Acchianata di Sangiulianu" before stopping in front of the convent of the Benedictine nuns, a unique opportunity to listen to the songs of the cloistered nuns. Subsequently, Sant'Agata returns to the Cathedral where the crowd of faithful awaits her and the final fireworks display. To embrace their Patron Saint again, the people of Catania will have to wait until August 17th for the summer celebrations of Sant'Agata.
Argomento correlati:
- Agata, nobile e santa.
- Sant'Agata, le origini della festa.
- Le reliquie della Santa
- La Vara
- Le candelore
- Il saio
- Il saccello
- L'offerta della cera
- Il tesoro di Agata
- I dolci
