Feast of Saint James the Greater (Feast of Miracles) with the Aragonese Banner Procession

One of the island's oldest festivals

In Capizzi, a small town in the Nebrodi mountains in the province of Messina, the Feast of Saint James the Greater is much more than a patronal festival: it is a rite of identity that the community renews every year in late July. Its origins date back to the Norman era, when the sanctuary dedicated to the saint was built, and are intertwined with the medieval history of the village. Also known as the Feast of Miracles, it is considered one of the oldest and most fascinating religious celebrations in Sicily.

The Rite of Miracles

The highlight is the famous Rite of Miracles, which takes place in Piazza dei Miracoli in the historic center. The heavy vara (the processional float, called "a Vara" in the local dialect) bearing the statue of the saint is carried on the shoulders of numerous devotees through the narrow streets of the town, until it is forcefully pushed against the wall of an ancient house, striking it repeatedly like a war battering ram. According to popular tradition, each strike represents a miracle, and an old belief held that an even number of strikes heralded prosperity. The crumbling wall is interpreted as a symbol of the sin, pride, and arrogance that faith is able to overcome.

The Aragonese Banner Procession

The festival opens with the Aragonese Banner Procession, a historical re-enactment in period costume that commemorates the stay of Peter II of Aragon in Capizzi in the 14th century. The sovereign granted the village a "free fair," exempt from duties and taxes: the procession accompanies the Banner to the Castle and the Bell Tower, recreating the atmosphere of medieval Capizzi.

Popular devotion: the novena and U Viaggio

In the days leading up to the festival, the novena takes place with Eucharistic celebrations, while July 24th is dedicated to the solemn procession of the saint's sacred relics. At dawn, one of the most intense moments occurs: "U Viaggio", a barefoot pilgrimage in which the faithful walk to the sanctuary to ask for graces or fulfill vows, a gesture that testifies to the depth of popular devotion in the Nebrodi.

Capizzi and the Nebrodi

Perched at an altitude of over 1,100 meters, Capizzi is one of the highest towns in Sicily and a gateway to the Nebrodi Park. Experiencing the Feast of Saint James means discovering an authentic village, far from mass tourism routes, where faith, Aragonese history, and mountain traditions merge into one great popular celebration.