Feast of the Santissimo Crocifisso dell'Olmo in Mazzarino

An ancient feast that of the Santissimo Crocefisso dell'Olmo a Mazzarino that the inhabitants call U Sciuri of Maiu which refers to a legend that narrates that a band of bandits in an unspecified time and coming from Piazza Armerina, entered the church to steal the Crucifix.
The story says that one of these robbers had stuck an elm rod he was carrying right in front of the church door and that, by a miracle while they were carrying out the theft, this rod turned into a tree.

When the gang went out, seeing a tree that wasn't there before, they thought they were somewhere else and, for fear of being discovered, they left what they had stolen and ran away. That tree grew until 1880, when the then canon rector decided to have it cut down to allow a greater passage of air into the church.

How much truth there is in this legend is not known but what is documented is that the procession and the festival take place even before 1125.

The story related to the event

Even if the documents dating back to the XII century speak of the procession and of this feast, nevertheless the true date of its institution is fixed at 1693 after Mazarin was spared from a terrible earthquake which destroyed many villages of the island.
From that year onwards it is customary to carry the Crucifix containing the relic of the Virgin in procession Cross of Christ, escaped the greed of thieves, going around the main streets of Mazarin.

The celebration, in addition to attracting visitors from every neighboring town, sees the devout participation of the Mazzarinesi who, as the procession passes, throw necklaces of yellow daisies from windows and balconies and participate in the procession barefoot.

When and where the Feast of the SS takes place. Elm Crucifix

The Feast of the SS. Crocifisso dell'Olmo is held on the second Sunday of May. The celebrations begin with the opening of the church doors, the first of May where many faithful go on pilgrimage, making the journey barefoot every day until the Sunday of the procession to renew their promise to Jesus.
On the Thursday before the feast, the real celebrations begin which consist of the opening of the Triduum, a special three-day event dedicated to spiritual preparation. The following day, it is time for the little confreres who, going to the altar at the end of the function, bring gifts.

On Saturday it is the turn of the older confrati to make the offerings before taking the Crucifix from the crypt of the altar and placing it on a bed to allow everyone to adore it.

In a colorful and flowered Mazzarino, the procession takes place on Sundays which sees 120 barefoot men covered by a simple white robe, carry on their shoulders a festively decorated fercolo weighing 14 quintals.

The fercolo, made up of four fir axes called baiarde and a square base, supports an ornate wrought iron canopy inside which the Crucifix is ​​positioned at the base of which is a globe representing the earth surrounded by four angels.

At the end of the Mass, the confreres destined to carry the fercolo in procession take their positions and to the shout of Viva Gesù Cucifissu, raise it to exit the church and walk along via Anzaldi, Largo Immacolata Concezione, via Concezione, via Guerrieri, via Bivana, via Nicolosi, Piazza del Carmine, via di Santa Lucia, Piano Accardi, via Maria SS. Delle Lacrime, via La Bella, Largo S. Spirito, via Roma, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Basilica Maria SS. Del Mazzaro, via Marconi and Largo Signore dell'Olmo.

What to do during the Feast of the SS. Elm Crucifix

The faithful during the procession of the fercolo follow it by carrying out what is called Viaggiu scauso – i.e. traveling barefoot – admiring the decorations prepared by the inhabitants who want to make with festoons, palm trees and flowers homage to the Crucifix.

The little ones, in accordance with tradition, as the fercolo passes, throw hundreds of necklaces of yellow daisies, which are skewered together, to almost entirely cover the fercolo.

Characteristic is what is defined "annacata". It is a swing that the porters do to the fercolo, so that it appears to fall, with obvious apprehension on the part of the crowd following the procession. This will last until the afternoon when we return to church. If in the past the festival was an opportunity to collect clothing, offerings and food for the poor, today it has remained only an event deeply felt by the Mazzarinesi and the inhabitants of the neighboring villages.

How to get to Mazzarino to attend the Festa del SS. Elm Crucifix

Mazzarino is located in the central western part of Sicily in the province of Caltanissetta. It is 153 kilometers from Palermo and to get to the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Mazzaro you need to take the E90, the A19 and the E932.

For those arriving from Catania, 110 kilometers away, the route to follow is the SS417.