Saint Lucy Patronal Feast and Floats

A tradition born in 1636

The Saint Lucy Feast is the most important and ancient celebration in Belpasso, a town in the Metropolitan City of Catania, Sicily, nestled on the southern slopes of Mount Etna. The bond between the town and its patron saint dates back to 1636, when Belpasso gained autonomy from the ancient Malpasso and chose Saint Lucy as its protector. Since then, every year in December, the entire town gathers around the Syracusan saint in a festival that weaves together devotion, folk art, and community identity.

The allegorical floats: the "spaccata"

The most spectacular element of the festival are the Saint Lucy Floats, enormous mechanical structures mounted on trailers that exceed twelve meters in height. During the so-called "spaccata", the floats slowly open in Piazza Duomo and Piazza Umberto, revealing allegories, scenic displays, and a dazzling array of multicolored lights that leave spectators breathless. The city's various districts compete to create the most beautiful float, in a challenge that is both a display of craftsmanship and an act of faith.

The festival program

The festivities follow a well-established schedule:

• Tredicina (November 30 - December 12): thirteen days of dawn masses, accompanied by the ringing of the great bell of the Mother Church.
• December 11-12: opening of the allegorical floats and procession of the sacred relics.
• December 13: solemnity with the unveiling of the simulacrum, the triumphant exit from the church, and the long procession through the city streets.
• December 14: pontifical mass at the Mother Church and the traditional final "run" of the faithful returning the silver fercolo (processional float) to the church.
• Octave: in the following days, moments dedicated to children and families in Piazza Duomo.

Faith, community, and solidarity

In recent years, the festival has added a strong spirit of solidarity to its devotional dimension, with initiatives such as the "Saint Lucy Solidarity Lunch" organized by the City Committee in collaboration with local associations and municipal social services. The celebration involves the Mother Church, the Church of Sant'Antonio Abate, and the main squares, transforming Belpasso into a grand stage of light and tradition in the heart of the Etnean winter.

Why it's worth the trip

Witnessing the "spaccata" of the Saint Lucy Floats is a unique experience in the landscape of Sicilian patronal feasts: the craftsmanship, the sheer scale of the structures, and the atmosphere of collective devotion make this festival an unmissable event for those who want to discover the most authentic side of Sicily.