Patronal Feast of Saint Onuphrius the Hermit

A festival born from the plague of 1743

Devotion to Saint Onuphrius the Hermit in Casalvecchio Siculo, a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Messina overlooking the picturesque Agrò Valley, dates back to 1743, when the plague was devastating the Messina territory. Seeing that a bust of the saint had mitigated the virulence of the contagion in Messina, the inhabitants decided to entrust themselves to his protection and dedicate a cult to him that still animates the town today. Since then, Saint Onuphrius has been the patron saint of Casalvecchio Siculo, celebrated with great participation every second Sunday of September.

The silver simulacrum and the treasures of the Mother Church

At the heart of the devotion is the precious silver simulacrum commissioned in 1745 from the Messina artist Giuseppe Aricò: a work partly cast, partly embossed, and finely chiseled, which is carried on the shoulders of devotees through the streets of the village. The Mother Church also houses a 16th-century wooden bust, a testament to the antiquity of the cult.

The rite of the camiddhu, a unique tradition

The most characteristic element of the festival is 'u camiddhu, a two-humped camel made of wood and fabric that is led through the streets of the town to the rhythm of drums on Sunday afternoon. The figure metaphorically represents the nearby town of Savoca, situated on a mountain that forks into two ridges: the camel is beaten, humiliated, and finally tamed by a camel driver symbolizing Casalvecchio, in a representation charged with historical and local meanings handed down from generation to generation.

Traditional games and folklore

Alongside the religious rites, the week of festivities offers traditional games: the famous game of the quartareddi (or pignatte), in which blindfolded contestants try to hit terracotta jugs filled with prizes or water with a stick, amidst the cheers of the spectators. There is no shortage of the local town band, fireworks displays, folk performances, food festivals, and craft fairs that enliven Piazza Tenente Elia Crisafulli and the historic center.

An identity-defining event for the Agrò Valley

The patronal feast of Saint Onuphrius is much more than a religious recurrence: it is the moment when the community of Casalvecchio Siculo reaffirms its identity, welcoming emigrants and visitors who return to the village for the evening procession, considered the most evocative moment of the entire festival. For those who want to discover the most authentic Ionian Sicily, far from the tourist circuits, it is a precious opportunity.