Patronal Feast of Tusa – Maria Santissima Assunta

La patronal feast of Tusa it is a very ancient recurrence, which is the perfect synthesis between the sacred and the profane. It is organized every year on the 15th of August but in reality it lasts much longer, both in terms of preparation and the events connected to it. Taking part in the event can be the right opportunity to discover a part of the island that is not very touristy but at the same time extremely fascinating.

Here, then, is everything you need to know to attend the feast of Maria Santissima Assunta of Tusa.

Description of the patronal feast of Tusa

La Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption of Tusa is the anniversary that celebrates the patron saint of this town in province of Messina. In reality, the event represents one of the main moments of a rich calendar of activities and events that are part of thesummer in Tusa, but certainly the one dedicated to the patron saint is a festival that all the inhabitants of Tusa await with great fervor every year, both to pay homage to the Madonna and to take part in the so-called Acchianata.

In addition to the religious celebrations, during the days preceding the main event, the town of Tusa is transformed into a large village festival, with stand of all kinds and many activities that are designed to entertain a very large audience. They are not missing game tournaments, the race known by the name of Marcialonga and other shows of various kinds.

The story linked to the patronal feast of Tusa

The story concerning the feast of the patron saint Maria Santissima Assunta of Tusa is really very old and for this reason even more suggestive. Its origins, in fact, are linked to the year 1693: at that time the citizens of Tusa asked the Madonna for the grace to protect their town from the danger of earthquakes which were very frequent in that area. Since the Madonna accepted the plea, from that moment she became the patroness of the town.

The celebration ofGrabbed by Madonna, however, is later, perhaps dated in the seventeenth century at the behest of a member of the noble family of Li Volsi: it is a stage performance which allows you to simulate, thanks to a particular mechanism, a statue of the Madonna under a starry sky. The original machine was made in 1639 by Scipioni Li Volsi, a local artist, on orders from his family.

When the event takes place

The event officially takes place on the day of August 15th, which is precisely the day dedicated to the Madonna, but in reality also in the two days immediately preceding there are other events that are connected to the first and most important. On the 15th, therefore every year on the same date, the activities begin very early because the celebration of the anniversary is marked by a series of steps which, century after century, are always the same.

Where the Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption of Tusa takes place

The patronal feast of Tusa involves the whole town as the statue of the Madonna is carried in procession through the streets of the town, so that all the faithful can give her grace. Obviously the fulcrum of the religious festival is represented by the Mother Church which is the one from which the statue leaves and in which it returns, after the procession. The solemn mass which concludes the religious celebrations is also celebrated here. As regards, however, the other events that are linked to the anniversary but of a more mundane nature, are organized in every corner of Tusa.

What to do during the patronal feast of Tusa

The celebrations linked to the feast of the patron saint Maria Santissima Assunta of Tusa begin on August 15st, when the fortnight is recited every day, a very ancient prayer which is a sort of preparation for the anniversary. On August XNUMX, however, the statue of the Madonna is brought out of the church for the first time Mother Church and carried in procession through the streets of Tusa in this particular ceremony which is called Dormition Marie and which is then repeated a second time in the late afternoon, immediately after the Eucharistic celebration.
At this point it's time forAcchianata to which follows the Historical ride, another very important appointment which is not however linked to a religious reason but recalls the tradition of the past, when the peasants brought ears of wheat as a gift to the Madonna. If this is the part that concerns the sacred, then there is a profane aspect of the event and it is linked to entertainment and folklore.

In fact, during the patronal feast of Tusa, various types of shows are organised, and you can taste the excellent ones local food and wine in the many stands that are set up but you can also play sports, participating for example in the Marcialonga and other tournaments organized for professionals and simple game enthusiasts.

How to get to Tusa

To get to Tusa and take part in the patronal feast, you can take the road by car. From Palermo and Messina, for example, the reference motorway is the A20, with the exit at the Tusa junction from which, then, you continue to your destination along the SS113.

The locality is also served by Station local which is connected with the regional trains of the Palermo-Messina line. Long-distance connections, on the other hand, stop at the nearby Santo Stefano di Camastra station from which you can continue to Tusa with a local bus service provided by the ATS company.