Festa di Sant’Agata 2025

Festa di Sant’Agata 2025 will take place between Monday, February 3, and Wednesday, February 5, 2025, in the beautiful city of Catania.

The celebration is dedicated to Saint Agatha, the patron saint of the city of Catania, who was martyred in the year 251 AD, during the persecution of the Roman Emperor Decius.

The saint is celebrated in Catania twice a year. The Feast of Saint Agatha held in February commemorates the martyrdom of the Saint.

The Summer Feast of Saint Agatha, held on August 17, celebrates the return of her remains to Catania, after 86 years in which the relics were kept in Constantinople.

In February, around one million people come from all over Sicily to attend Festa di Sant’Agata.

The feast is comparable with the Holy Week in Seville, Spain, or the Feast of Corpus Domini in Cuzco, Peru.

WHAT ARE THE DATES FOR FESTA DI SANT’AGATA 2025?

Festa di Sant’Agata 2025

Festa di Sant’Agata is a three-day event marked by a series of religious processions, elaborate rituals, and cultural festivities.

The Feast of Saint Agatha 2025 will be held from Monday to Wednesday, between 3 and 5 of February, 2025.

For three days, the city will forget about everyday things to focus on the celebration, a mixture of devotion and folklore.

WHAT IS THE LOCATION OF THE FEAST OF SAINT AGATHA 2025?

The Feast of Saint Agatha 2025 will take place in Catania, the second largest city in Sicily, after Palermo, with about 320,000 inhabitants.

The city is located on the east coast of Sicily, at the foot of Mount Etna, the biggest volcano in Europe.

The festival draws to the city of Catania up to a million participants, including locals and pilgrims from around the world.

The Feast of Saint Agatha is a profound expression of the people’s devotion to their patroness and a showcase of Catania’s rich cultural heritage.

SHORT HISTORY OF THE FEAST OF SAINT AGATHA

Cathedral of Catania – The Feast of Saint Agatha 2025

Born in Catania in 231, Agata consecrated her life to the Christian religion.

At the age of 15, she made a vow of virginity and rejected the amorous proposals of the Roman prefect Quintianus, who tried numerous times to seduce her.

After her refusal, Quintianus persecuted her as a Christian.

Agata was subjected to brutal torture, and eventually died in prison on February 5th, in the year 251 AD.

Her martyrdom has made her an enduring symbol of faith and resistance, and she has been venerated as a saint ever since.

The first celebration of Sant’Agata probably took place on August 17, 1126.

At that moment, the remains of the Saint, stolen in 1040, were brought back to Catania from Constantinople by two soldiers, Gilberto and Goselino.

At the beginning, the celebrations were mostly liturgical in nature and took place inside the Cathedral of Catania.

This fact was demonstrated indirectly by what happened on February 4, 1169, when a tremendous earthquake razed the city of Catania to the ground.

The faithful people gathered inside the Cathedral for the celebration of Sant’Agata were buried alive.

Later, the religious celebration was accompanied by a popular feast, desired by both the Municipality and the population.

Therefore, in addition to the procession of Saint Agatha, events of a different nature were held to entertain the faithful who came from all over Sicily.

Until 1692, the festival was held on a single day, on February 4th.

Beginning with 1712, the event took place over two days, on 4 and 5 of February. Today, the feast lasts for 3 days, between 3 and 5 of February.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR FESTA DI SANT’AGATA 2025

Piazza del Duomo – Festa di Sant’Agata 2025

February 3, Monday: On this day, around noon, the Feast of Saint Agatha will begin with a solemn procession dedicated to the wax offerings.

From the Church of Sant’Agata alla Fornace to the Cathedral of Catania, the procession will cut through a very large crowd, being accompanied by 12 giant candles known as candelore.

Every candelora will be carried on a golden carriage decorated with flags, statues and dozens of smaller candles.

This procession is accompanied by the rhythmic tolling of bells and the chants of the faithful, creating an atmosphere of reverence and reflection.

The first day of the feast will end in the evening, with a fireworks display in the main square of the city, Piazza del Duomo.

February 4, Tuesday: The second day of the feast will be the most exciting day, because the city will meet its patron saint.

The day of February 4 will begin with a morning mass at the Cathedral of Catania, where the relics of Sant’Agata, including her veil, are kept.

Then, the remains of Saint Agatha will be placed in a silver palanquin named fercolo, weighing almost 3 tons, and carried in procession throughout the city.

The procession will follow a route that will wind through the city’s historic center, passing by significant landmarks such as Piazza del Duomo, Via Etnea, and the Church of Sant’Agata alla Fornace.

Some of the participants will walk barefoot as a sign of devotion and humility, many dressed in traditional white robes known as saccos.

The procession will continue well into the night, with the streets of Catania illuminated by the soft glow of thousands of candles, creating a scene of profound beauty and spirituality.

February 5, Sunday: The final day of the festival will begin with a morning mass at the Cathedral of Catania, after which the relics of Sant’Agata will be once again paraded through the city.

On the third day, at sunset, the second part of the procession will begin, which will wind along the streets of the historical center of Catania.

The most awaited moment will be the ascent of San Giuliano, which due to the slope is the most dangerous part of the whole procession.

The completion of the climb will be met with cheers and applause, marking a triumphant moment in the feast.

The ascent of San Giuliano represents a test of courage for the participants.

At dawn, on 6 February, the fercolo will reach Via Crociferi and the festivities will end.