Feast of San Calogero in Petralia Sottana

In Petralia Sottana, a small Sicilian town of about 2.500 inhabitants in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, there is a great religious festival which, in the month of June, unites the whole community of the faithful in the celebrations for the patron saint of the town: in addition to the fellow citizens of Petralia, many inhabitants from the nearby areas also flock to the Religious Festival of San Calogero, and the presence of tourists is always very welcome.

Liturgical celebrations in the Church precede the traditional Processione della Vara every year, during which the ancient statue of San Calogero is carried through the streets of the town, but this is only the culminating moment of the festival, which already begins several days before with the so-called sittina in San Calogero, or the morning celebration of Mass in honor of the Saint, in the week preceding the feast, at the Mother Church.

Between prayers and recollection, the week runs fast until the eve of the Religious Feast of San Calogero in Petralia Sottana, when at noon, with the bells ringing in celebration, the eve is announced and mortars are fired into the air in honor of the saint .
On Christmas Eve, the children of the village carry a small statue of the Patron in procession, for a torchlight vigil in his honour.

The day of the real feast is celebrated with Mass in the Church and then comes the most awaited moment of the day: the procession of the Vara, during which the simulacrum of San Calogero is carried through the streets of the town.

The pyramid-shaped vara is decorated with flowers and fruit and the faithful, who take turns carrying it around the centre, receive gifts from the others such as biscuits, bread or wine; the women who wish to ask for the intercession of San Calogero proceed barefoot singing an ancient rosary, while jugglers whirl around with the banner.

The procession ends in the evening, when the simulacrum returns to the church and the fireworks are fired, but the night in Petra continues with stalls, shows and music, for the amusement of adults and children.

The history of the religious festival of San Calogero in Petralia Sottana

Although San Calogero has been the Patron Saint of Petralia Sottana only since the XNUMXth century, the Religious Festival dedicated to him by the community has very ancient origins, dating back to at least two centuries earlier, as evidenced by the statue of the Saint which is lovingly carried in procession, year after year by the faithful.

The papier-mâché simulacrum was, in fact, made in the first half of the XNUMXth century by Humble Friar from Petralia, while the relics of the saint were brought to Petralia in 1747, about a hundred years before San Calogero became the patron saint of Petralia Sottana.

Documents dating back to the first half of the XNUMXth century testify that the Patron of the town was still San Giuseppe, but a few years later the faithful elected San Calogero as their Patron.

San Calogero, hermit and thaumaturge, lived between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth century AD and received great veneration in many towns in Sicily.

When does the feast of San Calogero take place?

The day of the Religious Festival of San Calogero in Petralia Sottana is June 18th, but the celebrations in his honor already begin on June 11th. The 17th, Christmas Eve, is a particularly important date for celebrations in the town.

Where the feast of San Calogero takes place

The feast takes place with liturgical celebrations in the Church and then, from Mother Church of Maria SS. Assumed, the Procession begins. The route that passes through the streets of the center is made up of 18 stages and ends at the Church of Saints John the Baptist and Calogero the Hermit, Church of San Calòjust outside the country.

What to do during the feast of San Calogero

Staying in Petralia Sottana is the best solution for those who want to participate in the Feast of the Patron Saint, also being able to enjoy the first summer days. In this way, in addition to visiting the churches of the town and taking part in the processions in honor of the Saint, it will also be possible to visit Petralia Sottana and its surroundings.

In the village, you can also visit the church of San Francesco d'Assisi and not far away is the Sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Alto, which can be reached by off-road vehicle or through the footpath for the pilgrimage of the faithful. Those traveling with children will undoubtedly find the MAV fun and interesting Virtual Archaeological Museum of Bompietro, about 11 km from the center.

With an hour's drive, however, you can reach the Gorges of Tiberius, where you can take guided tours to fully experience the wonderful experience of a journey into nature.

Sicily is naturally also known for its food and in the area of ​​Petralia Sottana you can especially taste the fried fries, a typical sweet made with flour, honey and sugar, or fried caciocavallo, to be tried in the bars and restaurants of the area.

How to get to the feast of San Calogero in Petralia Sottana

Petralia Sottana is located in the Metropolitan City of Palermo and can be reached by car or train.

Visitors arriving by car can take the A19 Palermo-Catania, and take the exit for Irosa, 10 km from the town centre; those traveling by train can get off at Cefalù station and continue by bus for a journey of about 25 km.