Feast of Sant'agata in Catania - Lumia Case Vacanze

Feast of Sant’agata in Catania

Saint Agata is the protector of the bell founders (which were rung when the saint was invoked). She is the protector of weavers (according to the legend that Agata persuaded a hateful man who wanted to marry her to wait for the completion of a canvas she was making,

that she sewed during the day and unstitched at night), firefighters (since in medieval times she was invoked for protection from fires) and women affected by breast diseases (as Agata is killed after having suffered the amputation of the breasts).

THE LIFE

Agata was born in Catania around 235 AD. Engaged in catechesis preparing young people to be baptized,

communicated and confirmed, she suffered harassment from the proconsul Quinziano,

who arrived in Catania in order to make Christians renounce the faith. He becomes infatuated with the girl and after knew of her consecration,

he requires them to renounce their faith. Agata, however, refuses to adore the pagan gods.

And for this she is entrusted to the re-educational custody of Aphrodisia, a corrupt courtesan,

with the purpose submitting her to the will of the proconsul.

but that didn’t help because the young woman has never lost faith in God to the point that her temptresses renounce their commitment to corrupt her and they return her to Quinziano. Agata is then taken to prison,

where she suffers violence that is intended to make her change her mind. Agata is whipped and,
through pincers, she is subjected to a cruel tearing of the breasts and finally she is forced to walk on hot coals.

Agata dies in her cell on the night of February 5, 251. The relics of Sant’Agata are currently in the cathedral of Catania.

The feast of St. Agatha is the most important religious festival in the city of Catania,

days of worship, devotion, folklore and traditions, and it is one of the most followed Catholic religious holidays, due to the number of people it attracts.

THE PROCESSION

One of the three days is reserved for the offering of candles. A popular custom is that donated candles are as high or as heavy as the person asking for protection. The day of celebration ends with a show of fireworks in Piazza Duomo. The fireworks during the feast of Saint Agata,

take on a particular meaning,

because they remind us that the patron saint always watches over the fire of Etna and all the fires.

Three different keys, each guarded by a different person, are necessary to open the iron gate that protects the relics in the cathedral: one is guarded by the treasurer, the second by the master of ceremonies,
the third the prior of the cathedral chapter.

CANDLEMAS

The feast of Saint Agata is indissoluble from the traditional parade of candles, candles covered with handmade decorations,

golden wooden putti, flowers and flags. Each of the 11 candles has a precise identity.

TRADITIONAL SWEETS

They could not miss, the sweets related to the tradition of the saint of Catania. In addition to the famous Calia and simenza, are made sweets that have a reference to Saint Agata, such as the “Cassateddi of Sant’Aita” and “Olivette”. The Cassateddi,

or “Minni of Saint Aita”, refer to the breasts that were torn from the saint during the martyrs to which she was subjected,

to force her to renounce her faith. The olive groves, instead, refer to the legend that she, chased by the men of Quinziano,

had stopped to rest for a moment.