Festivities in Honor of Saint James the Apostle

A festival that is the soul of Geraci Siculo

Perched at over a thousand meters above sea level in the heart of the Madonie Park, Geraci Siculo is one of the most beautiful and ancient villages in the province of Palermo, Sicily. Every year, the town gathers around its Patron Saint, Saint James the Apostle, in a celebration that weaves together faith, memory, and community identity. The festivities in honor of Saint James are much more than a simple patronal feast: they represent the moment when the entire Geraci community, whether living in the village or abroad, reunites to honor their roots.

The wooden statue and the Church of Saint James

At the heart of the devotion is the wooden statue of the Saint, a work from the mid-16th century, depicting Saint James with the Gospel and a pilgrim's staff. The sculpture is housed in the Church of Saint James, located near the Ventimiglia Castle, an ancient symbol of the power that ruled the Madonie village for centuries. The 15th-century church is the starting point of the long ritual journey that accompanies the statue through the town's streets every summer.

The transfer on July 25th

The festivities begin on July 25th, the liturgical feast day of the Apostle, with the transfer of the statue from the Church of Saint James to the Mother Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. After the Holy Mass celebrated in the Saint's church, a procession accompanies the statue to the Mother Church, where the Patron Saint will remain exposed for the veneration of the faithful until the Thanksgiving feast on September 24th.

The main feast on the second Sunday of August

The celebrations reach their peak on the second Sunday of August. The solemn days are preceded by a three-day preparation period with afternoon Holy Masses at the Mother Church. On the morning of the feast, the marching band travels through the village streets, while in the afternoon, after the Solemn Mass, the Saint is placed on a float adorned with flowers and wheat and carried in a solemn procession. The Confraternity of Saint James leads the procession, followed by the statue, the band, and the faithful. In the evening, Piazza del Popolo hosts shows, dialect comedies, and musical entertainment to close the festival.

The Madonie village and its tradition

Experiencing the Saint James festivities means discovering Geraci Siculo at its most authentic: cobblestone streets, Baroque churches, medieval fountains, and views over the Madonie mountains provide the backdrop for a ritual passed down through generations. The festival is organized by the Confraternity and the Saint James Committee together with the Parish of Santa Maria Maggiore, in the Municipality of Geraci Siculo, province of Palermo.