Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help

The feast of the co-patron saint of Regalbuto

The Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is one of the most cherished events in the religious and popular calendar of Regalbuto, a town in the province of Enna, in the heart of Sicily. The Virgin Mary is venerated as the co-patron saint of the town alongside Saint Vitus the Martyr, and is honored with festivities traditionally held in the first days of September, culminating on the solemn day of September 8th.

"A Madonna a mazza"

The people of Regalbuto affectionately call their protector "A Madonna a mazza": the statue depicts the Virgin holding a mace, a symbol of warding off evil. This image is so deeply rooted in the town's identity that it even appears on the municipal banner. The devotion is overseen by the Church of Santa Maria, which organizes the festivities, with its heart in the central Piazza Vittorio Veneto.

The triduum and days of preparation

The festival is preceded by a preparatory triduum that marks the three days leading up to the solemnity. Each day is dedicated to a different segment of the community: ecclesial groups and civil/military authorities, volunteers, the elderly and the suffering, and finally, the spheres of family, youth, work, and sport. It is a moment of reflection that spiritually prepares the town for the solemn day.

The Papera, an ancient popular tradition

Alongside the religious dimension lives one of the most curious and ancient traditions of Regalbuto: the so-called "Papera". On the afternoon of the first day, to the sound of a brass band, a rope is stretched between the two ends of Via G. F. Ingrassia. Hanging from the rope, one by one, are terracotta jugs (known as bummuli) containing various items such as hens, rabbits, doves, sand, bran, or water. Knights in festive attire, riding richly caparisoned horses, attempt at a gallop to break the jugs, amidst the enthusiasm of the crowd: a surprise for those who succeed, and an unexpected shower for those who hit the wrong one.

The procession and fireworks

The highlight occurs on the evening of the solemnity: after the High Mass, the statue of the Madonna is carried in procession through the main streets of the town, accompanied by the devotion of the faithful and the notes of the band. Traditional fireworks mark the conclusion of the festivities, illuminating the sky of Regalbuto and bidding farewell to the patron saint until the following year.

An event in the heart of Sicily

Between the sacred and the profane, the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is much more than a religious anniversary: it is the moment when Regalbuto rediscovers its identity, its roots, and the bond with a tradition passed down from generation to generation, in the heart of the Enna province and inland Sicily.