Saint Joseph Festival

A festival that welcomes the Sicilian spring

The Saint Joseph Festival is one of the most deeply rooted and well-attended events in Scordia, a town in the province of Catania, Sicily. Traditionally celebrated on March 18th and 19th, it falls between the end of winter and the start of the warmer season, effectively marking the beginning of the island's spring festival cycle. Centered around the patron saint of workers and protector of the family, the entire Scordia community gathers in an atmosphere of devotion and celebration that involves all generations.

Caparisoned horses and ancient propitiatory rites

The most spectacular and defining element of the festival is the parade of richly caparisoned horses. As they carry gifts to the Holy Family, they preserve traces of archaic propitiatory rites linked to the farming world. The main day begins with the sound of firecrackers, followed by the equestrian parade and the procession of the three individuals who, through the streets of the historic center, embody the Holy Family, accompanied by a brass band and committee members.

The Saint Joseph lunch and the devotional auction

Upon returning to the church, on the parvis of the Church of Saint Joseph, the three saints are symbolically offered the traditional Saint Joseph lunch, recalling an ancient act of charity and popular devotion. The festival continues with the characteristic auction of gifts, where objects, sweets, and local products offered by the faithful as a sign of gratitude are put up for bidding: these include the famous viscotti 'ca liffia, cuddure, and pieces of caciocavallo cheese.

The procession of the simulacrum

In the evening, after the solemn mass, the fercolo (processional float) carrying the wooden statue of Saint Joseph is paraded through the streets of the parish dedicated to him, greeted by the choral cry "Viva San Giuseppe!". The vigil on March 18th features an afternoon auction of gifts offered by devotees, an offertory procession, and, in the evening, the exit of the Saint Joseph float followed by fireworks.

The Church of Saint Joseph

The heart of the celebration is the Church of Saint Joseph, located in Piazza Regina Margherita in Scordia and belonging to the Diocese of Caltagirone. The building, with its single nave, marble altars, and wooden decorations, houses wooden sculptures of the Holy Family, paintings by the local artist Giuseppe Barchitta (1874-1959), and vault frescoes by Giuseppe Barone depicting the Marriage of the Virgin and the Holy Family working in the carpenter's shop. It is an artistic and devotional heritage that serves as a treasure chest for one of the traditions most beloved by the people of Scordia.