Saint Blaise Festival

A festival spanning over four centuries

The Saint Blaise Festival is one of the most deeply rooted events in the calendar of Aci Sant'Antonio, a town in the Metropolitan City of Catania at the foot of Mount Etna. Its origins date back to 1601, making it nearly as old as the feast of the patron saint: a continuity of devotion that has spanned centuries and continues to draw locals, returning emigrants, and curious visitors to the town every early February.

The heart of the festivities is the Church of San Biagio, which reopened a few years ago after a long period of closure and is now once again the hub of religious and community life. Around it, and along the central Via Regina Margherita, unfolds a program that weaves together sacred moments and opportunities for popular celebration.

Between liturgy and popular tradition

The highlight is February 3rd, the feast day of Saint Blaise, the bishop and martyr venerated as the protector of the throat. The morning is dedicated to the traditional blessing of the throat and bread, an ancient gesture that attracts numerous devotees every year. In the afternoon, a solemn mass is celebrated, followed by a procession of the statue through the streets of the town.

Alongside the religious dimension, the festival thrives on gastronomic and social traditions: the opening Maccheronata, the "Macaroni and Sweets Festival" initiative in the courtyard of Palazzo Cantarella, artisan stalls, live music, and the lights illuminating Via Regina Margherita make this Etna village a small capital of celebration.

Concerts, lights, and twinning

Among the most anticipated events is the Concert for Peace, hosted in the Church of San Biagio with operatic voices, piano, and violin, and the colorful pyromusical show in Piazza Maggiore, designed without loud bangs to respect the environment and animals. To seal the spirit of community, there is also the twinning with Bronte, a town on Mount Etna that venerates the same Saint: a delegation from the Bronte committee is welcomed to Aci Sant'Antonio, strengthening a devotional bond between two Sicilian communities.

Why it is worth visiting

The Saint Blaise Festival is the ideal opportunity to discover the authentic popular devotion of Etna's Sicily, far from the major tourist circuits. Here, faith becomes a village celebration, with its rituals, flavors, and music, in a small town that proudly preserves a tradition over four hundred years old.