Saint Lucy Festival and Cuccìa Festival

The Saint Lucy Festival in Valguarnera Caropepe

Every year, on December 12th and 13th, the town of Valguarnera Caropepe, a small center in the province of Enna in the heart of inland Sicily, hosts one of the most heartfelt and spectacular events in its calendar: the Saint Lucy Festival. Dedicated to the patron saint of sight, the celebration is held alongside the traditional Cuccìa Festival. It is a feast of faith and fire, where the entire community gathers around the Saint with a devotion that spans generations and has even withstood emigration, thanks to families who return each year to fulfill their vows.

The pagliolo and the burgie: the night of fire

The most iconic symbol of the festival is the pagliolo, a massive votive structure about five meters high and one meter wide, crafted from straw shrubs carefully inserted into large iron rings and secured with ropes. On the evening of December 12th, the pagliolo is lit and carried in a procession through the town streets, accompanied by a painting of Saint Lucy and the local brass band.

In the squares and outlying neighborhoods, the burgie are also lit—large straw bonfires set up by residents in honor of the Saint. Fire thus becomes the beating heart of the celebration, illuminating the winter night in the Enna region with an atmosphere charged with religious fervor and folk tradition.

The Cuccìa Festival

During the festival days, the Cuccìa Festival takes place, dedicated to the traditional dish associated with Saint Lucy: boiled wheat, seasoned with oil and salt or, in sweeter versions, with ricotta. The 'cuccìa' commemorates the miracle of 1646 when, according to tradition, the arrival of a ship laden with grain saved Syracuse from famine. Since then, devotion to Saint Lucy throughout Sicily has been linked to the consumption of this humble food on December 13th. In Valguarnera, the Pro Loco Terre di Carrapipi organizes a community dinner in Piazza Francesco Lanza, where the classic cuccìa is served.

The procession of December 13th

December 13th is the day of the religious anniversary: a solemn Eucharist is celebrated, and panuzzi di Santa Lucia—small blessed breads representing the Saint's eyes—are distributed to the faithful. The procession with the statue of the martyr then winds through the streets of the town, accompanied by a sacred canopy and the brass band.

A tradition that unites the community

The festival is kept alive by historic local families, such as the Trovato and La Cagnina clans, who have maintained their bond with the tradition even from Germany, where many residents emigrated in the last century, returning every year to honor their vow. Today, the Pro Loco coordinates the celebrations with the support of the entire community, making the Saint Lucy Festival an identity-defining event that tells the story of the most authentic soul of Valguarnera Caropepe and inland Sicily.