Saint Joseph Festival — 'A Rètina and 'A Scalunata

Saint Joseph in Caccamo: A festival that welcomes spring

In the heart of the Madonie, perched at over 500 meters above sea level and dominated by its powerful Norman castle, the village of Caccamo, in the province of Palermo, experiences one of its most cherished traditions every March 19th: the Saint Joseph Festival. Considered the first major tradition of the year, the festival symbolically marks the beginning of spring and involves the entire Caccamo community, gathered around their devotion to the carpenter Saint, patron of workers and protector of families.

'A Rètina: The collection on muleback

Among the most evocative rituals is 'A Rètina, an ancient tradition of alms-collecting that takes place on the Sundays preceding March 19th. A parade of mules adorned with ribbons and bells, led by men in traditional peasant attire, winds through the narrow cobblestone streets of the village accompanied by a brass band. Along the route, they collect offerings in kind—wheat, fava beans, chickpeas—that devotees have pledged to the Saint as a sign of gratitude, evoking the ancient grain harvest and the community's deep bond with the land.

'A Scalunata: The staircase of candles

Another key moment is 'A Scalunata, which can be admired inside the Church of Maria SS. Annunziata. A long staircase, entirely covered in lit candles, is set up by the high altar, rising to the apse where the exquisite wooden statues of Saint Joseph and the Child are displayed—works from 1640 attributed to Gaspare Serpotta. The spectacle of candles illuminating the Baroque nave creates an atmosphere of intense spirituality that draws worshippers and visitors from the entire region.

Rituals, procession, and blessed bread

• Solemn Eucharistic celebrations on the morning of March 19th
• Distribution of blessed bread, typical of Sicilian devotion to Saint Joseph
• Solemn evening procession of the statue through the village streets
• Participation of the Saint Joseph Congregation and the parish community

Caccamo, a medieval treasure of the Madonie

The festival is also an opportunity to discover Caccamo, one of the most historically and artistically rich villages in the province of Palermo. Its medieval urban layout, made of narrow, cobblestone alleys, houses over thirty churches, the majestic Norman castle, the Cathedral of San Giorgio, and the Baroque Church of San Benedetto alla Badia. The Church of Maria SS. Annunziata, with its elegant Baroque stone portals, provides the backdrop for the Saint Joseph rituals, weaving together the devotion, art, and identity of an entire Sicilian community.