Saint Joseph Festival

A centuries-old festival in the heart of Sicily

The Saint Joseph Festival is one of the most cherished events in the religious calendar of Centuripe, a picturesque town in the province of Enna perched on a ridge overlooking the Simeto Valley, in Sicily. While the official origins of the celebration date back to 1777, devotion to the Holy Patriarch is deeply rooted in the island's rural culture, where Saint Joseph is invoked as the protector of families, workers, and the poor.

Preparation and religious rites

The festivities are organized annually by the Confraternity of the Patriarch Saint Joseph, in collaboration with the Immaculate Conception Parish. The festival is preceded by a novena, held in the evenings leading up to the event, and culminates on the solemnity of March 19th. The morning begins with the blessing and distribution of the Saint Joseph bread at the church dedicated to the Saint, followed by a solemn Holy Mass.

The 'Giro dei Santi' procession

In the afternoon, the most anticipated moment takes place: the procession of the Holy Patriarch's statue, which winds through the main streets of the historic center following the famous Giro dei Santi route, passing through narrow alleys and scenic viewpoints of the ancient town. The day concludes with a second Eucharistic celebration at the Mother Church and a fireworks display that lights up the village sky.

The 'virginieddi' and the traditional tables

At the heart of the folk tradition is the rite of the virginieddi: those who have received a grace from Saint Joseph vow to set up a banquet in his honor, inviting children and young people to represent the Holy Family and the saints. After the priest's blessing, the 'virginieddi' are the first to partake in the votive meal, while the remaining food is shared with neighbors, relatives, and visitors. The tavolate (banquet tables), set up along the town's streets, offer traditional dishes: pasta with chickpeas, rice with ricotta, salt cod and fried artichokes, potato croquettes, and typical sweets such as Saint Joseph's sticks and ricotta ravioli.

A cultural heritage of Centuripe

Combining devotion, gastronomy, and folklore, the Saint Joseph Festival represents an authentic cultural heritage for the community of Centuripe and a precious opportunity to discover the most genuine traditions of inland Sicily. The sharing of blessed food, an act of charity toward the needy, keeps the original spirit of the festival alive.