Christmas in the Village - Living Nativity

A month of celebration in the Etna village

The 2025-2026 edition of Christmas in the Village in Castiglione di Sicilia unfolded throughout the Christmas season, from December 8th to January 6th, transforming the historic center into a large open-air nativity scene.

The Living Nativity took place on December 28, 2025, and January 4, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, starting from Via Federico and following a route along Via Vallone Doberdò, Via Cameni, Piazza Sant'Antonio, Piazza San Pietro, and the Church of San Benedetto, animated by the music of the Alcantara Folk group.

The calendar also included the traveling Novena in the days leading up to Christmas, Christmas concerts in the Basilica of the Madonna della Catena (including the Grand Christmas Concert on December 29th) and the Church of Sant'Antonio, the Santa Claus Village, musical evenings with markets and tastings in Piazza Lauria, and the final Befana Parade with the Santa Claus Band on January 6th.

December 2025

• December 23 — Santa Claus Village, 5:00 PM (activities for children)
• December 17-24 and 27 — Traveling Christmas Novena, 6:00 PM (songs and folk music in the neighborhoods)
• December 26 — Piano concert, Basilica of the Madonna della Catena
• December 27 — Musical evening, karaoke, markets, and tastings of typical products and wines in Piazza Lauria
• December 28 — Living Nativity in the village, 6:00 PM-11:00 PM (Giudecca district)
• December 29 — Grand Christmas Concert, Basilica of the Madonna della Catena
• December 30 — "Candle Notes", musical atmosphere in the Church of Sant'Antonio

January 2026

• January 3 — Traveling Novena, 6:00 PM
• January 4 — Living Nativity in the village, 6:00 PM-11:00 PM + evening in Piazza Lauria
• January 6 — Befana Parade and Santa Claus Band, 11:00 AM, Piazza Lauria

Throughout the period, the "Nativity Scenes in the Village" competition was held, with outdoor nativity scenes created by citizens and associations in various neighborhoods.