Madonna della Stella Festival

A Marian feast in the heart of the Montagna district

The Madonna della Stella Festival is one of the most cherished religious traditions in Scordia, a town in the province of Catania in the heart of Sicily. It is celebrated every year on September 8th, the day the Church commemorates the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, at its historic home: the Rectory of Madonna della Stella, located in the Montagna district, the town's most populous neighborhood.

The origins of the cult

Devotion to the Madonna della Stella was introduced to Scordia during the 19th century, stemming from the popular piety of citizens who arrived from Militello in Val di Catania, bringing this specific Marian veneration with them. The title of "Stella" (Star) is symbolically linked to the Nativity of Mary, the dawn that precedes the rising sun. At the center of the celebrations is a wooden statue of the Virgin, kept in the church of the Montagna district, which was donated by local residents in the 1960s and later carefully restored.

The preparatory triduum

The festival is preceded by a three-day prayer triduum that traditionally begins around September 5th. In the days leading up to the solemnity, the recitation of the Holy Rosary, meditation on the joyful mysteries, and Eucharistic celebrations presided over by local parish priests take place. One of the most evocative moments is the pilgrimage on foot that follows the ancient path along the railway, leading the faithful from the church of San Domenico Savio in the town center to the rectory in the Montagna district.

The September 8th procession

The day of the festival is marked by a solemn evening Eucharistic Celebration, after which the statue of the Madonna is carried in procession through the traditional streets of the Montagna district, particularly along Via Berlinguer and Via Garibaldi, decorated with lights and flowers. The procession is accompanied by a brass band and hundreds of faithful chanting the devotional cry "Viva Maria". The day is also enriched by the characteristic horse parade by the Knights of Sicily, as well as cultural entertainment in the churchyard and traditional fireworks displays.

Faith, tradition, and community

More than just a religious event, the Madonna della Stella Festival represents an important gathering for the community of Scordia and the province of Catania. It is an occasion where an entire neighborhood reunites around its own identity, intertwining spiritual dimensions with the folklore, music, and conviviality typical of Sicilian patronal feasts.