Madonna della Salette Festival

The Patronal Feast of Lavinaio

In the heart of Lavinaio, a village within the municipality of Aci Sant'Antonio near Catania, the Madonna della Salette Festival is the most anticipated event of the year. The parish community celebrates its patron saint, Maria Santissima della Salette, with great solemnity, blending faith, tradition, and the unique identity of this small Etna village.

A Devotion Born in the 19th Century

The history of this festival is intertwined with the church itself. In the past, to attend religious services, the inhabitants of Lavinaio had to walk for nearly an hour along difficult and dangerous paths to reach the mother church in Aci Sant'Antonio. The desire for their own place of worship was so strong that, according to local lore, a farmer named Filippo Messina grew a chestnut tree in his vineyard specifically to provide the main beam for the future church's roof. Around 1837, the priest Don Pietro Paolo Amico bequeathed ten ounces of gold for the long-awaited construction. The Parish of Maria SS. della Salette was canonically established on December 19, 1921, and today falls under the Diocese of Acireale.

The Procession

The highlight of the festival is the procession. The statue of the Madonna, placed on a traditional fercolo, leaves the church around 5:00 PM to wind through the village streets, returning at dusk. The scene is framed by decorative lights, a brass band accompanying the cortege, and fireworks marking the journey. At the heart of it all is the prayer of the faithful, who join together in spiritual devotion to their patron saint.

When It Takes Place

The festival is usually celebrated on the third Sunday of September, though it has occasionally been held on September 19, the liturgical feast day of Our Lady of La Salette, commemorating the Marian apparition that occurred in 1846 in the French mountains of La Salette. The days leading up to the feast are marked by a period of spiritual preparation in the parish, featuring Eucharistic celebrations and moments of prayer.

An Opportunity to Discover Lavinaio

Attending the festival is a chance to discover an authentic corner of Aci Sant'Antonio and the Etna region, far from the beaten tourist path. Between the square, the parish church, and the decorated streets, one can breathe in the genuine atmosphere of a Sicilian village feast, filled with popular religiosity, music, and conviviality.