Feast of San Giuseppe in Randazzo

If you are in Sicily in the month of March, you absolutely cannot miss the beautiful feast of the Patron Saint Joseph in Randazzo, an event that every year brings together all the citizens in a unique event , where religious and secular themes merge. The anniversary originates from the devotion of the villagers to the Saint, who would have miraculously saved people from the terrible lava flow that took place in 1981.

In fact, the entire landscape context is closely linked to the fate of the natural events caused by the volcano. Etna here is the true protagonist of history and geography, with its grandeur and timeless charm. Tourists can enjoy glimpses unrivaled landscapes , also venturing onto the numerous nature trails for a total immersion in the territory. The festival takes place in the streets of the town and on that occasion it is possible to get to know the traditions that come from the past and which still maintain their peculiarities unchanged today.

There is no shortage of tastings of typical local products , to give a touch of delight to the celebrations. During the zeppole festival you can eat the delicious fried rice-based desserts, also taking part in entertainment and music shows, without losing sight of the strictly religious dimension, with the celebration of the rosary, Mass and procession.

Feast of San Giuseppe in Randazzo: the volcano between history and miracle

The feast of the patron saint San Giuseppe in Randazzo coincides with the 19 March , together with Father's Day, therefore for people it is a double opportunity to express gratitude, pray and be together in the name of optimism. Having to retrace the historical roots of this popular sentiment, we would have to go back in time, even up to 1679, the year in which San Giuseppe became the patron saint of the town.

The feast, however, refers to a concrete episode that took place between 17 and 19 March with the last large lava flow . Apparently it seemed that there was no escape for the town of Catania but something stopped the catastrophe and, according to the inhabitants, it was St. Joseph himself who averted a destiny of destruction, making Randazzo escape the danger. The construction of a sculpture in memory of the Saint by Gaetano Arrigo was then commissioned, to be placed on the hilltop of San Pietro.

The peculiarity of this artistic creation is the positioning facing Etna, to indicate the protector figure who turns his gaze to the volcano reassuring the faithful. Until the Second World War there was also a small and charming church where the religious rites in honor of St. Joseph were concluded, with the simulacrum carried in procession. In 40 years since the eruptive episode, folklore has never died out, constantly rekindling the spotlight on the Catania village and attracting numerous visitors.

Feast of San Giuseppe in Randazzo: the places of the party

As regards the festival of zeppole , the location is the entire town of Randazzo, with the city streets literally transformed, with playful, arctic and musical initiatives, as well as the many stalls offering this delicacy. The spiritual aspect of the tradition, on the other hand, is concentrated in religious places, starting with the preparatory triduum, with the rosary and Holy Mass, which generally coincide with the weekend.

On March 19 there is the sung Mass and the simulacrum of St. Joseph starts the procession walking along Via Umberto Duca degli Abruzzi, then arriving at the Basilica of S. Maria, where the celebration is held in the presence of the parish priests. The simulacrum then resumes its journey from Via Umberto reaching Piazza San Giovanni Bosco.

A moment of meditation is usually held here to remember the 1981 event which risked irreparably compromising the life of the town and which fortunately did not materialize into anything serious. We proceed to bless the relic of the Patron, we leave from Piazza San Pietro and return to the Church of San Martino.

Feast of San Giuseppe in Randazzo: what to do

The most frenetic days are those that precede the party, with many preparations aimed at setting up a flawless ceremony . People who want to participate in the liturgy can go to the church and pray for the rosary, for Mass and for the subsequent procession. Those who want to take advantage of the moment to indulge in a touch of goodness can taste the zeppole, a treat for the palate, which both adults and children really like.

The festival is done parallel to the feast of the Patron San Giuseppe in Randazzo and continues for the days following the event. In this period the cultural initiatives promoted by the local administration and by the numerous committees followed one another. The program is full of appointments that include the artistic, artisanal and musical dimension.

The famous zeppole are nothing more than a sort of sweet crepe, presented in many different versions depending on the country. They are also called exhaust or, more properly, rice dumplings . They originate from the Catania nuns of the Benedictine Monastery and date back to the XNUMXth century. The modern recipe includes rice pancakes scented and flavored with orange, with honey that completes this unmissable delicacy.

How to get to the event venue

Randazzo is located in the northern part of the Etna area, at an altitude of 700 metres, in a context that can be easily reached from Catania, Enna or Messina. Towards the Ionian coast, the connection is the Fiumefreddo di Sicilia road.
As for the motorways, it is possible to take the Messina-Catania (A18) or the Messina-Buonfornello (A20).
Those arriving by train can stop at the Giarre or Taormina railway stations. Obviously you must then head towards Randazzo on State Road No. 120.