Annunziata and Saint Joseph Festival

A centuries-old tradition in the Nebrodi village

The Annunziata and Saint Joseph Festival is one of the most deeply rooted religious events in Alcara li Fusi, a small hillside village in the Nebrodi Park, in the province of Messina (Sicily Region). Every year in March, the entire community gathers around the two statues in a double celebration that intertwines popular devotion, historical memory, and folklore. The key dates are March 19, dedicated to Saint Joseph, and March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, honoring the Most Holy Annunziata.

The novena and preparations

The festivities are preceded by a novena of prayers and liturgical celebrations involving the local parishes and the Confraternity of the Most Holy Annunziata. The village prepares with care: churches are decorated, committees organize the logistics of the procession, and the brass band accompanies the highlights of the ritual.

The meeting of the statues

The most evocative moment takes place during the feast of Saint Joseph. After the Solemn Mass celebrated in the church, the archpriest and the band go to collect the Madonna, who leaves her church on an exquisite artistic float and travels through the narrow streets of the ancient Motta district, the medieval area of the town. Shortly after departure, the small statue of the "Eternal Father" is placed on the dome of the float from the balcony of a private home: a ritual gesture full of meaning. Upon reaching Piazza San Pantaleone, the famous "meeting" between the Annunziata and Saint Joseph takes place, greeted by the applause of the faithful.

The return and the bowing ritual

Once the procession is over, Saint Joseph accompanies the Annunziata back to the ancient Motta district, passing once more in front of the house of the family that keeps the "Eternal Father" statue until the next festival in September. Finally, on the church parvis, the "bows" (inchini) of greeting between the two statues take place, closing the festivities amidst the emotion and applause of the community.

An identity heritage

This celebration represents much more than a religious appointment: it is a defining trait of Alcara li Fusi and the Nebrodi area. The ritual of the meeting, the raising of the Eternal Father statue, the final bows, and the setting among the medieval alleys of the Motta make the festival an authentic experience for those wishing to discover the Sicily of popular traditions, far from mass tourism circuits.