Saint Michael the Archangel Festival

Saint Michael the Archangel, patron of the first parish

In Maletto, a small village in the Province of Catania and the highest municipality on the Etna side, September is the month of patronal feasts. The community calls this period the "Month of the Saints": it begins with Saint Anthony of Padua, continues with Saint Vincent Ferrer, and culminates in the third week, dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of the town's first and oldest parish.

An ancient devotion

Maletto's bond with Saint Michael is deeply rooted in the village's religious history. In 1816, the Parish of Maletto, dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel and comprising the churches of San Michele (the oldest), Saint Anthony of Padua, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, moved from the Diocese of Messina to Nicosia and, from 1844, to the Archdiocese of Catania. Saint Michael, described in local tradition as the saint of the nobles, the warrior saint, guards the oldest identity of the Maletto community.

The procession of the statue

The central moment of the festival is the procession of the statue of Saint Michael the Archangel, which winds through the streets of the center, including the historic descent of Via Roma. The saint, depicted as a warrior archangel defeating evil, is carried on shoulders through crowds of people, accompanied by the brass band and the devout participation of the entire town. The liturgical feast day is September 29th, but the festivities are concentrated on the weekend of the third Sunday of the month.

Maletto and Mount Etna

Experiencing the Saint Michael festival means discovering the most authentic side of Sicily, that of the small towns in the Sicily Region where popular and religious traditions remain a community affair. Maletto, known for its strawberries and the views opening toward the volcano, welcomes returning emigrants and visitors during these days who wish to breathe in the atmosphere of a village festival at the foot of Mount Etna.