Feast of Saint Agatha 2024

Find out more information about Festa di Sant’Agata 2025!

The Feast of Saint Agatha 2024 (Festa di Sant’Agata 2024) will take place between Saturday, February 3, and Monday, February 5, 2024, in Catania.

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

WHAT ARE THE DATES FOR THE FEAST OF SAINT AGATHA 2024?

Saint Agatha is celebrated in Catania twice a year. The feast held in February commemorates the martyrdom of the Saint, while the feast held in August celebrates the return of her remains to Sicily.

The Feast of Saint Agatha (Festa di Sant’Agata) takes place between 3 and 5 February, while the Summer Feast of Saint Agatha (Festa Estiva di Sant’Agata) takes place every year on August 17.

In February, around one million people come from all over Sicily to attend the Feast of Saint Agatha, which is comparable to the Holy Week in Seville, Spain, or the Feast of Corpus Domini in Cuzco, Peru.

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

WHAT IS THE LOCATION OF FESTA DI SANT’AGATA 2024?

Festa di Sant’Agata 2024 will take place in Catania, with the main festivities held in the beautiful Piazza del Duomo, in front of the Cathedral of Catania.

SHORT HISTORY OF THE FEAST OF SAINT AGATHA

Born in Catania in 231, Agata consecrated her life to Christianity. At the age of 15, she made a vow of virginity.

She 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, and martyred her on February 5, 251.

The first celebration of Sant’Agata probably took place on August 17, 1126, when the remains of the Saint, stolen in 1040, were brought 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.

On February 4, 1169, a terrible earthquake razed the city of Catania to the ground, and buried the faithful people gathered inside the Cathedral for the celebration of Saint Agatha.

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

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

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE FEAST OF SAINT AGATHA 2024

Piazza del Duomo, Catania

On February 3, 2024, around noon, the feast 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, accompanied by 12 giant candles known as candelore.

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

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, the second day of the feast, will be the most exciting day, because the city will meet its patron saint.

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

The procession will last the whole day.

On the third day, February 5, 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 will be the most dangerous part of the whole procession.

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.