Feast of San Sebastiano Martire in Maniace

In January, Maniace celebrates San Sebastiano, martyr and patron saint of the small town in the Metropolitan City of Catania, in Sicily.

There are many Sicilian villages and towns that celebrate San Sebastiano and in Maniace the dialect verses of a prayer addressed to the Saint still echo, which recall the laurel, which was an instrument of martyrdom for him: today, in the week preceding the Feast in his honor, the faithful carry laurel branches in procession, which are decorated to honor the memory of San Sebastiano.

Arrived at Mother Church, the faithful await the blessing of the branches and only after the celebration can begin. The procession, which carries the simulacrum of San Sebastiano through the streets of the town, reaches the church of Nelson Castle, where vespers are sung.
Here the "panuzzi" of San Sebastiano, blessed, are given to the faithful, who in turn bring complimentary gifts.
The mass begins, the gifts are blessed and then the mass begins Race of the Saint, during which the simulacrum of San Sebastiano is rushed by the faithful from the altar to the back of the church and then back to the altar.

The race continues with three laps around the cross in the Castle courtyard and then the actual procession begins: the statue is carried by the Nudes, barefoot and dressed in white, through all the districts of the country, reaching even the most remote points. The procession ends only a week later, when San Sebastiano has visited the whole town.

This week preceding the celebration is full of other events brought to life by the faithful, in memory of the episodes linked to the history of San Sebastiano. A calf is offered to the simulacrum of the Saint, as a gift, before the eyes of the many children dressed in white who surround the statue.
Then begins the last procession for the alms of San Sebastiano, which will arrive in every house in Maniace.

At the end of the day, the simulacrum is brought into the Church of San Nicolò, where he will remain until January 27th and 28th, collecting in the uptown areas.
The following Monday the thanksgiving mass in the Church of Sant'Emerenziana closes the celebrations and the simulacrum of the Patron Saint is brought back to the Mother Church.

The History of the Feast of San Sebastiano in Maniace

The celebrations for the Feast of San Sebastiano Martire in Maniace were established starting from the 1937s: in fact, it was XNUMX when the town decided to dedicate the typical peasant celebrations of the Tortorici Feast to San Sebastiano.
Both festivals, therefore, share ancient origins, dating back to the 1682th century, and remember the flood of XNUMX which destroyed the towns in the area. It is at this moment that the story of Saint Sebastian, a martyr killed in Rome, comes into contact with the lands of Maniace: it is said, in fact, that after the flood, two thieves who came from the capital had brought the relics of the Saint, stolen from his eternal home. The thieves, however, were prevented from doing so escape from Maniace, by a mysterious force that blocked them at the Calagni torrent.

All the events that occurred at the time of the flood are remembered with various popular events during the Feast of San Sebastiano in Maniace.

When the feast of San Sebastiano Martire takes place in Maniace

The celebrations in honor of San Sebastiano in Maniace begin on January 20th and end on the 28th of the same month, or on the Sunday closest to this date. The following Monday closes the celebrations with mass and the return of the statue of the Saint to the Mother Church.

What to do during the feast of San Sebastiano in Maniace

During the feast of San Sebastiano Martire in Maniace, the faithful carry the statue of the Saint in procession through every street and district of the town: joining them to retrace the stages linked to the history of the Saint can also be an opportunity for all tourists, to gather in a spiritual retreat in contact with the religious traditions of this land, but also to discover its history and beauty.
Naturally, anyone who wishes can attend the masses that are said for the occasion in the Churches of Maniace.

The Feast of San Sebastiano can be a starting point for organizing a stay in Maniace, because participating in a popular religious festival is truly an unforgettable experience, which allows you to experience all the enthusiasm and devotion of an entire town; on this occasion, you can visit local churches, such as the Abbey of Santa Maria di Maniace, where the ancient Norman apse is visible.
A perfect place to take children too is the Nelson Castle: here they arrived Normans and the pilgrims who wanted to reach Palermo stopped; today the eighteenth-century façade, the portico and the wonderful English gardens are visible.

Moving a little from Maniace, you can also reach Bronte (just 17 km away) and the Etna Park.
In Bronte there are many places of tourist interest, from the numerous churches to the Megalithic Monument of Balze Soprane; at the Etna Park, nature lovers will be able to visit the wonderful protected natural area.

How to get to Maniace for the feast of San Sebastiano Martire

Maniace is located in the Metropolitan City of Catania, in North-Eastern Sicily. The town can be easily reached by motorway from all the main cities on the island. From Catania, Maniace is about 65 km away.

Visitors can reach the Feast of San Sebastiano Martire in Maniace by car, driving along the A18 motorway in the direction of Messina and then taking the exit for Fiumefreddo, about 40 km away.