Feast of Saint Joseph

The Patronal Feast of Mazzarrone

In Mazzarrone, an agricultural town in the Calatino area known for its table grapes and nestled between the provinces of Catania, Ragusa, and Caltanissetta, Saint Joseph is the patron saint, and his feast is the most anticipated moment of the year. Every March 19th, the day of the Patriarch's liturgical solemnity, the entire community gathers around the Mother Church, which overlooks the square of the same name in the heart of the town.

An Ancient Devotion

The bond between Mazzarrone and Saint Joseph is rooted in the town's history: the original church dedicated to the Saint was founded in the late 19th century and became a parish in 1908, upon the proposal of the Caltagirone municipality, of which Don Luigi Sturzo was then deputy mayor. Inside the Mother Church is kept the wooden statue of the Patriarch, which is carried in procession through the illuminated streets of the town on the day of the feast.

The Saint Joseph's Dinner

The heart of the Mazzarrone tradition is the Saint Joseph's Dinner, a ritual banquet prepared as a vow by a local family in gratitude for a received grace. Three people take part in the dinner, impersonating the Holy Family—Saint Joseph, the Madonna, and the Baby Jesus—following a custom widespread throughout Sicily. Around the ritual, Saint Joseph's altars are set up, richly decorated and filled with ritual breads of various shapes and traditional sweets, symbols of abundance and sharing.

Highlights of the Feast

• The children's performance by the parish community, staging episodes from the life of Saint Joseph in Piazza San Giuseppe
• The display of the statue on the parvis of the Mother Church
• The solemn Holy Mass with the blessing of children and altars
• The afternoon procession of the wooden statue through the town streets, accompanied by the ringing of bells
• The fireworks display that concludes the festivities

Flavors of the Feast

Like every Sicilian popular festival, the one in Mazzarrone has its own flavors: during the festivities, there is no shortage of specialties such as arancini, krapfen, and matalugghie, sweets linked to the period's tradition. The feast of Saint Joseph also coincides with Father's Day, and in Mazzarrone, this dual meaning translates into moments dedicated to families and reflection on the value of fatherhood, of which Saint Joseph is the ultimate model.

An Experience to Live

Participating in the Saint Joseph's feast in Mazzarrone means connecting with the most authentic side of Sicily, that of small towns where faith, culinary tradition, and a sense of community merge into a single experience. Between processions, fireworks, and the warm hospitality of the locals, it is an opportunity to discover a little-known but identity-rich corner of the province of Catania.