Cuccìa Festival and Santa Lucia Christmas Market
The Santa Lucia tradition of boiled wheat and Christmas markets in Casteltermini
Edition 2026 not confirmed to date
This edition has not been confirmed by the organiser to date. We recommend checking before going.
About Cuccìa Festival
A festival preserving the Santa Lucia tradition
The Cuccìa Festival and Santa Lucia Christmas Market is one of the most cherished winter events in Casteltermini, located in the province of Agrigento, in the heart of Sicily. Organized by the Pro Loco "Chiuddia" Casteltermini APS with the patronage of the Municipality, the event takes place in the picturesque Piazza Duomo around December 13th, the day the Church celebrates Santa Lucia. Established in 2014 to mark the Pro Loco's twentieth anniversary, the festival has grown steadily to become a much-anticipated community gathering.
Cuccìa, the traditional dish
The star of the festival is cuccìa, a simple and ancient dish from the Sicilian peasant tradition made with boiled wheat. According to legend, the dish is linked to a famine: on a day of great hunger, December 13th, a ship loaded with grain miraculously arrived at the port, and the miracle was attributed to Santa Lucia. Since then, on the saint's day, people across Sicily forgo bread and pasta to enjoy boiled wheat. In Casteltermini, the cuccìa is served at the Pro Loco stand, enriched with delicious white and chocolate pastry creams, following the most popular sweet version.
The Santa Lucia Christmas Market
Alongside the festival, the town center hosts the Santa Lucia Christmas Market, featuring stalls with local handicrafts, traditional food products, and holiday-themed items. It is the perfect opportunity to start your Christmas shopping amidst the lights and scents of tradition, while supporting local artisans and small producers.
Entertainment and festive atmosphere
- Distribution of cuccìa at the Pro Loco stand
- Market with artisanal and gastronomic products
- Entertainment and activities for all ages
- Tastings of traditional Christmas-period flavors
The Cuccìa Festival represents much more than a culinary event: it is an act of safeguarding a tradition that risked being lost among younger generations. Visiting it means discovering the authentic soul of inland Sicily, defined by devotion, conviviality, and rural roots. It is an ideal experience for those who want to enjoy a Sicilian Christmas away from the crowded tourist circuits, immersed in the hospitality of a small town in the Agrigento hinterland.
Cuccìa Festival — edition 2026
The Cuccìa Festival and Santa Lucia Christmas Market will return to Casteltermini in December 2026, continuing a well-established tradition centered around the Santa Lucia feast on December 13th. At the moment, the dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been announced by the Pro Loco "Chiuddia". As every year, the distribution of cuccìa—the boiled wheat dish enriched with pastry creams—and the Christmas market featuring crafts and local products are expected in Piazza Duomo. The detailed program will be communicated by the organizers in the weeks leading up to the event.
Practical information — Cuccìa Festival
How to get there
Casteltermini is located in the Agrigento hinterland. By car, it can be reached via the SS189 (Agrigento-Palermo) taking the exit for Casteltermini; it is about 45 km from Agrigento. The most convenient train stations are in Agrigento or Caltanissetta, with onward travel by bus or car.
Where and when
The event takes place in Piazza Duomo, in the historic center, during the weekend closest to December 13th, the feast of Santa Lucia.
Admission
Free admission. Cuccìa is distributed at the Pro Loco stand.
Contacts
Pro Loco "Chiuddia" Casteltermini APS – tel. +39 333 5705809 – [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Cuccìa Festival
Piazza Duomo
Piazza Duomo, 92025 Casteltermini