Madonna del Mazzaro Festival

A devotion spanning centuries

The Madonna del Mazzaro Festival is the primary religious and civil celebration in Mazzarino, a town in the Sicilian hinterland in the province of Caltanissetta. Held annually on the third Sunday of September, the feast honors Maria Santissima del Mazzaro, the town's official patron saint, drawing emigrants, devotees, and visitors from across the region.

The legend of the Byzantine icon

The roots of this devotion date back to September 16, 1125, the traditional date of the discovery of an ancient Greco-Byzantine icon painted on wood, found in a forest and an underground setting. The image depicts the Madonna delle Grazie flanked by the two Sicilian martyrs, Saint Agatha and Saint Lucy. This discovery sparked a cult that, over the centuries, shaped this great patronal festival. The image was officially crowned on September 16, 1900, by Archbishop Gaetano Quattrocchi.

The Sanctuary Basilica

The heart of the festivities is the Sanctuary Basilica of Maria Santissima del Mazzaro, built between 1739 and 1762 and consecrated in 1883. From here, processions wind through the historic center of Mazzarino, accompanied by the town band and the warmth of the faithful.

The "Dumannaredda" and caparisoned horses

One of the most characteristic elements of the festival is the procession of the "Dumannaredda", a small statue of the Madonna that is carried through the town streets in the days leading up to the feast, escorted by caparisoned horses to collect vows and offerings from the faithful, according to an ancient tradition. The festival period is preceded by a spiritual novena.

The procession of the statue

The day of the festival is marked by liturgical celebrations, the enthronement, and the unveiling of the painting by the Confraternity of the Children of Mary of the Mazzaro. In the evening, the 19th-century statue of the Palermo school is carried on the shoulders of the confreres along the main streets, amidst music, firecrackers, and applause, in an atmosphere of deep popular participation.

Intangible Heritage of Sicily

Due to its identity and traditional value, the Madonna del Mazzaro Festival has been included in the Register of Intangible Heritage of Sicily (R.E.I.S.), a recognition that protects and promotes the rites, knowledge, and practices passed down through generations in the Mazzarino community.