Feast of Maria Santissima Annunziata in Pedara

The Feast of Maria Santissima Annunziata in Pedara is the right opportunity to get to know the customs of the inhabitants of this fascinating town, which is located in the immediate surroundings of Etna at 600 meters above sea level, in an area that offers a bit of cool even in summer.

Sicily is an island where tourists can spend dream holidays, enjoying a fabulous sea, inimitable typical cuisine and a dive into the traditions that still today represent a distinctive trait to be preserved and passed down to new generations.

The volcano is just 15 km away, the same route that, in the opposite direction, separates the center of the municipality from that of Catania. Knowing the customs of these countries means literally immersing yourself in folklore, rediscovering ancient civil and religious dictates that have managed to reach the present day, arousing an interest that has never waned.

The celebrations for the patronal feast of Maria SS. Annunziata in Pedara

The celebrations are divided into two different periods: March and September. The day of 25 March it begins with a Eucharistic triduum, which is followed by the annunciation of the Lord. Subsequently we proceed with the exposition of the Marian simulacrum , who is venerated throughout the day during the celebrations of the liturgy. The actual village festival, however, is held in September and more precisely on the second and third Sunday.

In this period, the Sicilian town is literally transformed and this religious event that cannot be missed comes to life. The second week is marked by two whole days dedicated to the patronal feast, namely Sunday and Monday. There procession it is the culminating moment but it starts from the Friday before, with the offering of flowers and wax.
The parade and the opening of the floats takes place on Saturday and on Sunday and Monday the statue of the patron saint crosses the streets of Pedara. The third Sunday of September, however, is the so-called octave of the festival, that is, the eighth day dedicated to the celebrations, which in this specific case are carried out in the Sanctuary, taking care of placing the simulacrum away with the veiling ceremony.

Feast of Maria Santissima Annunziata in Pedara: a tradition that comes from the past

The celebrations outside the Sanctuary which are held in September undoubtedly represent the projection of a tradition that is kept alive and which sees a great active participation in young people, an unequivocal signal of the popular will not to lose this important custom. The entire community is busy with frenetic preparations that anticipate the moment of the procession.

I Marian chariots they are led through the streets of the center with the ancient fercolo, or the litter that depicts the sacred image to which believers are devoted. The tradition has its roots in a remote past which can be dated with the construction of the Marian building, which dominates a hilly position and which dates back to the 1422th century, dedicated to Maria Santissima Annunziata. In reality one could go even further back to search for the true origins since in the previous century there was already a construction for Santa Maria Annunziata. Evidence of this can be found in a document dated XNUMX relating to a land concession.

The patronal feast of Maria Santissima Annunziata in Pedara is also remembered in the seventeenth century, in the era of Don Diego Pappalardo, patron, when it was defined as the celebration of firecrackers, indicating fireworks, when a fair was set up for the event in conjunction with exhibitors who came from all areas of Sicily. Eighteenth-century writings refer to the Marian floats, created thanks to the efforts of the two districts of Sant'Antonio and Piazza which are located in the historic center. The fercolo, on the other hand, was produced in 1888 and carefully preserved over the years. The current church was declared a Marian sanctuary in 1971 by the Archbishop of Catania.

The charm of a very timely celebration

The celebrations to honor Maria SS officially open on the first day of September. Annunziata, announced by the bells of every church and with the gunshot from Mount Troina di 21 cannon shots . On the Friday before the party, the wax day takes place, with the traditional round of candlesticks and in the evening you can take part in the liturgical celebration with the offering to the Virgin.

The candles are an integral part of the ritual and are wooden works of art carried manually on the shoulders by the inhabitants during the village tour, representing the gift of the population devoted to Mary. During the eve the party moves to Piazza Don Diego Pappalardo where the Marian float show is staged, with Pedara becoming a perfect location for the event, with music, lights and games. On Sunday morning and evening the procession is the moment in which everyone takes part in the celebrations, which then end with Eucharistic rite .

The Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Annunziata

The building was completed between 1800 and 1900 by adding the two naves located on the sides. The entire body is of sixteenth-century construction and still today houses the simulacrum of the Annunciation, as well as the remains of Giuseppina Faro, servant of God, who lost her life in 1871 and is awaiting the pronouncement for beatification. The religious architecture can be appreciated by tourists who are in Pedara and who want to deepen their knowledge of the history and culture of this country, starting from the customs of the past and the festivals that animate the present.

Pedara awaits you on the slopes of Etna, in an inimitable landscape context. In March there is the first celebration and in September the functions in honor of the patron saint are repeated every year, with the procession and the characteristic Marian floats. Don't miss this special event and join the celebrations too.