Feast of the Madonna di Tagliavia in Vita

Il village of lifein province of Trapani, has been devoted to the for centuries Our Lady of the Rosary to which a particular legend also ties him. Just to pay homage to Patron saint, every year a festival is organized in his honor, in which all the inhabitants of the village participate financially but which attracts visitors from every corner of the island.
For those wishing to take part, here is all the useful information on feast of the Madonna of Tagliavia.

Description of the feast of the Madonna di Tagliavia

The feast of the Madonna di Tagliavia is an event that is organized every year and which is the most important testimony of the devotion that the inhabitants of this village have towards the Madonna of the Rosary.
The festival manages to mix religious moments with more folkloristic events and every year brings together a significant number of visitors from every area of ​​Sicily. Every inhabitant of Vita contributes economically to the event with what he can, also in relation to the thanks to the Madonna for the grace that everyone has received in the past. During the celebration, then, more spiritual moments alternate with decidedly more earthly ones such as blessing of animals or the parade of floats.

The story linked to the feast of the Madonna di Tagliavia

The feast of the Madonna di Tagliavia was born many centuries earlier, when local farmers brought their livestock to the "far" Sanctuary of Tagliavia, near Corleone, for the blessing of their livestock and to hope for a favorable harvest season. Once they returned to Vita, they built small niches in honor of the Madonna del Rosario as a symbol of one's devotion.
In the last century, however, a certain Joseph Perricone, having received a grace from the Madonna that had given him back the use of his previously completely paralyzed arm, he decided to have Vita build it own a chapel in his honor, which took the name of Chapel of the Madonna di Tagliavia.
Over time, this building was enlarged until it became a real church in modern times. From the beginning of the twentieth century, then, the habit of organizing religious celebrations on that day to ingratiate ourselves with the Madonna began.

When the event dedicated to the Madonna di Tagliavia takes place

The feast of the Madonna di Tagliavia is held every year in Ascension day that always falls 40 days after Easter and in any case before Pentecost occurs. The celebrations, however, also extend to the day before and the following day.

Where the feast of the Madonna di Tagliavia takes place

The party takes place in village of life and involves the entire country. The celebrations start from the church of Tagliavia and then extend through all the alleys of the center but also in the main streets that are part of the parade route of the floats.

What to do during the event

During the feast of the Madonna di Tagliavia there are many activities in which visitors can take part. In addition to the holy mass and the blessing of the animals, one of the most awaited moments is that of Procession of Abundance during which the floats parade in honor of the Madonna, each made by a different class.
Then there is the parade of the Carriage which is a cart from which the Cuccidded, Namely bread which is prepared on the occasion of this celebration. In honor, perhaps, of the purely peasant origins of the festival, the celebration is also known as that of Abundance, whereby from the balconies of the houses of Vita, confetti, sweets but also olives, hazelnuts and even small bags of wine are thrown to passers-by.
If you have time left, organize an adventurous excursion inside the Barony Forest, one of the most fascinating natural spectacles that can be discovered in the province of Trapani.

How to get to Life

You can travel to reach Vita and take part in the Madonna di Tagliavia festival by car, traveling along the A29 both from Palermo and Trapani and then continue on the SS 118 after having taken the Calatafimi exit.

Who prefers to travel on the train, instead, he will have to refer to the stations of Salemi Gibellina or Castellamare del Golfo, which are the closest ones, and from there continue by bus because Vita does not have its own station.
Finally, from Trapani there is a local bus service that also connects the Vita village.