Feast of Saint James the Apostle

A devotion spanning the centuries

The Feast of Saint James the Apostle the Greater is the heart of the identity of Gratteri, a charming village in the Madonie mountains in the province of Palermo, in the heart of Sicily. The origins of the celebration date back to the 12th century: according to tradition, it was Saint James who intervened to liberate the town from the Arabs, and Count Roger of Hauteville donated a precious relic of the Saint to the community. Since then, the devotion has never ceased, passed down from generation to generation as one of the deepest bonds between the village and its history.

When it is celebrated

The liturgical celebration of Saint James falls on July 25th, but the main festivities take place from September 7th to 9th. In ancient times, the July feast was preceded by an eight-day market; over time, the major civil and religious celebrations were moved to September, a period when the town still comes alive with festivities today.

The three days of celebration

The start of the festivities is announced a few days earlier with the display of the flag of Saint James and the festive ringing of bells from all the churches. The first day opens with the firing of firecrackers and the parade of the Angelo Tornabene Band through the streets of the town, followed in the evening by shows, plays, and concerts in the square. The eve is dedicated to the solemn vigil liturgy in the Mother Church, traditionally presided over by the Bishop of Cefalù, in the presence of civil and military authorities and the governors of the Confraternities.

The procession of September 9th

The most anticipated moment is September 9th, the main day of the feast. In the morning, a solemn Eucharistic Celebration is held in the Mother Church; in the afternoon, the procession for the sick takes place, with special prayers. In the evening, the solemn procession begins: the wooden statue of the Saint, covered in gold leaf, is placed on a vara (float) and carried on the shoulders of at least sixteen men through the main streets of the village, accompanied by the Relics and the Confraternities. In the main square, at the moment of the blessing with the relic, the bearers of the heavy float kneel in a gesture of traditional devotion.

Music, fireworks, and tradition

• Brass band and parades through the historic center
• Evening concerts and shows in the square, with artists and cover bands
• Plays and entertainment for families
• Concluding fireworks display, around midnight

The feast concludes with fireworks that illuminate the sky over Gratteri, sealing three days where the sacred and the profane intertwine. An event that every year draws returning emigrants, visitors, and devotees to the village, and remains one of the most authentic expressions of the popular culture of the Madonie and all of Sicily.