Saint Anthony Abbot Festival

A devotion that spans the centuries

The Saint Anthony Abbot Festival is the core identity of Misterbianco, a populous municipality in the Metropolitan City of Catania, located on the slopes of Mount Etna. The cult of the Egyptian hermit saint, protector of animals and fire, has been documented in the city since the late 17th century: a relic of the saint's arm, kept in a precious silver reliquary, has been publicly venerated since 1615. In 1750, Saint Anthony Abbot was elected Patron Saint of Misterbianco, and the great solemn festival was authorized, shaping a tradition that the community has proudly passed down from generation to generation.

The liturgical celebration of January 17th

Every year, on January 17th, the day the Christian calendar commemorates the saint, Misterbianco experiences its annual liturgical festival. In the afternoon, in front of the Mother Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the ancient rite of the blessing of bread and animals is renewed, a gesture that recalls the rural and pastoral dimension of the Antonian cult. After the solemn celebration, the statue of the saint makes its "exit" onto the steps of the Mother Church, welcomed by the devotion of the faithful, and a torchlight procession closes the day of celebration.

It is precisely at the end of the evening mass on January 17th that the parish priest announces the future festivities, greeted by the traditional 101 cannon shots: a sound that has always marked the most intense moments of Misterbianco's devotion.

The Great Festival and the four Candelore

Alongside the annual recurrence of January 17th, every three years Misterbianco celebrates the spectacular solemn Great Festival in the days preceding and following the first Sunday of August. The absolute protagonists are the four artistic candelore (cerei) in gilded wood, finely carved with cherubs, festoons, and panels that tell the life of the saint. Each represents a social category of the town: the Carters and Truck Drivers (the oldest, 1865), the Vineyard Workers (1875), the Shepherds (1909), and the Masters (1910).

The districts and the Cantate

The city is divided into districts, or "partiti", each of which has its own hymn dedicated to the saint, the so-called Cantata, sung during the passage of the procession. This richness of rites and folk songs has led the festival to be inscribed in the REIS, the Register of Intangible Heritage of Sicily, a recognition of its value as cultural heritage.

An event to experience

Participating in the Saint Anthony Abbot Festival means coming into contact with the most authentic soul of eastern Sicily: the popular faith, the handed-down rites, and the warmth of a community that gathers around its Patron Saint. The liturgical recurrence of January 17th offers a collected and intense moment, perfect for discovering the devotional side of Misterbianco far from the large tourist flows.