Festival of Maria SS. della Favara (Patronal Feast)

A patronal feast with an Arbëresh heart

The Festival of Maria SS. della Favara is the patronal feast of Contessa Entellina, a small village in the Province of Palermo nestled in the Sicani Mountains of Sicily. Celebrated every year on September 8th, the day of the Nativity of Mary, it is one of the most cherished moments for the entire community. Contessa Entellina is one of the Arbëresh centers in Sicily, founded by Greek-Albanian refugees who have preserved their language, traditions, and especially the Greek-Byzantine rite for centuries: this is why the festival is a rare example of coexistence between the Roman rite and the Byzantine rite of the Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi.

History and devotion

Veneration of the Madonna della Favara dates back to the 17th century. The wooden statue of the Virgin was carved in 1651 by Benedetto Marabitti, while the annual procession on September 8th was established in 1660 by the Bishop. The precious wooden vara (float) that carries the statue during the procession dates back to 1838. Since then, the festival has been passed down from generation to generation, keeping the bond between the town and its patron saint intact.

Rites and the procession

Festivities begin in late August with the octave of preparation at the Church of Maria SS. della Favara. The eve of September 7th is marked by solemn vespers in the Byzantine rite. The day of September 8th opens with the brass band parading through the town streets and a Eucharistic celebration in the Roman rite, followed by a pageant that travels from the Church of the Holy Souls to the Church of the Madonna della Favara for the Pontifical Mass in the Byzantine rite celebrated by the Bishop. In the afternoon, the statue of the Madonna is placed on the vara, and in the evening, it leaves the church for a solemn procession through the town centre, accompanied by religious authorities, the faithful, and the band, concluding with a nighttime fireworks display.

The September 9th Fair

On September 9th, a thanksgiving mass is held, and the village comes alive with the traditional Contessa Entellina Fair, featuring food stalls serving Sicilian-Albanian cuisine, craft markets, and an evening musical performance in the square, closing two days of faith, tradition, and popular celebration.