Feast of the Assumption of Mary (Patronal Feast)

The most cherished feast in Tusa

The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is the most important and well-attended patronal celebration in Tusa, a picturesque village in the Nebrodi mountains overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the province of Messina and the heart of Sicily. For three days around Ferragosto, the entire town gathers around its patron saint in a blend of liturgy, devotion, and centuries-old folk traditions, drawing back many Tusa natives who return to the village specifically for these days.

The origins: the vow of 1693

The community's deep devotion to the Madonna Assunta is rooted in the terrible Val di Noto earthquake of 1693, when the citizens of Tusa invoked the Virgin's protection against the tremors. Since then, the bond between the town and its patron saint has remained unbroken, and the feast has become the highest expression of the village's collective identity.

The three days of the feast

The festivities, preceded by the traditional quindicina of prayer, follow a program marked by appointments unchanged over time:

• August 13 — The Dormitio Mariae: In the late afternoon, the evocative procession of the 'Madonna Morta' winds through the streets of the historic center, during which the statue of the Virgin is laid on a bed of reeds and carried on the shoulders of the faithful.
• August 14 — The Acchianata da Madonna: The eve of Ferragosto is dedicated to the event that symbolizes the feast, the ancient scenic representation of the Assumption held in the Mother Church.
• August 15 — The Historical Cavalcade: The day of the Assumption features a choreographic parade of horses, mules, and donkeys decked out for the feast, with riders in traditional Sicilian costumes, followed by a solemn Mass and the procession of the statue of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven.

The Acchianata da Madonna: heritage of Sicily

The heart of the feast is the Acchianata da Madonna, an ancient scenic representation of the Virgin's Assumption into heaven whose origins date back to the late 17th century. Using an ingenious device—once manual, now electric—the statue of the Virgin is lifted high among clouds painted on scenic flats, simulating the ascension. Due to its identity value, the Acchianata has been inscribed in the Register of Intangible Heritage of Sicily (REIS) since 2016. The performance is repeated several times: on the eve, the day of the Assumption, and finally on the Octave.

The Octave and the village atmosphere

The celebrations do not end on August 15th: the following Sunday, the Octave is celebrated with a new solemn Mass, the procession of the statue, and a repeat of the Acchianata, sealing a month of August lived entirely under the sign of the patron saint. The evenings are filled with musical performances, folk entertainment, and moments of conviviality in the town squares, while the medieval village and the nearby seaside hamlet of Castel di Tusa provide the backdrop for one of the most authentic summers in the Nebrodi.