Festa di Sant’Agata, one of the most important and captivating religious festivals in Sicily. The feast is dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Saint Agatha, who was martyred around the year 251 AD, during the persecution of the Roman Emperor Decius.
Saint Agatha is celebrated in Catania twice a year – the feast held in February commemorates the martyrdom of the Saint, while the Summer Feast of Saint Agatha, held in August, celebrates the return of her remains to...
more »Festa di Sant’Agata, one of the most important and captivating religious festivals in Sicily. The feast is dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Saint Agatha, who was martyred around the year 251 AD, during the persecution of the Roman Emperor Decius.
Saint Agatha is celebrated in Catania twice a year – the feast held in February commemorates the martyrdom of the Saint, while the Summer Feast of Saint Agatha, held in August, celebrates the return of her remains to Catania, after 86 years in which the relics were kept in Constantinople.
Eventful days full of faith, tradition and devotion, a Feast that is quite unique in the world; the only comparison can be the Holy Week in Seville, Spain, or the Corpus Domini in Cuzco, Peru. During these three days, the whole town is abuzz for the patron Saint’s Festival, the young Agatha, Virgin and Martyr from Catania, whose irresistibly attractive story, can touch every heart. The girl, a young and beautiful Christian coming from an aristocratic family, resisted the flattery of the Governor Quintianus, and struggled against any abuse of power to defend her faith and her moral integrity. But the cost of this choice were painful martyrdoms the city was threatened by a violent eruption. The inhabitants of the nearby villages, terrified, took the veil that was wrapped around her tomb, and used it as a shield against the lava flow. The white veil suddenly turned red and stopped the eruption. It was February 5, the day of her martyrdom anniversary.
Catania was rescued and, from then on, the city, splendidly lit up with fairy lights, is crowded every year with visitors and devotees from all over the world.
For these three days, the city forgets about everyday things to focus on the celebration, a mixture of devotion and folklore.
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