Saint Rosalia Festival

A festival that tells the story of Santa Croce Camerina's identity

The Saint Rosalia Festival is one of the most cherished traditions in Santa Croce Camerina, a small town in the province of Ragusa overlooking the southeastern coast of Sicily. Considered the second most important religious celebration in the town after that of the patron saint, Saint Joseph, the festival is actually older and maintains its deep-rooted popular connection year after year. For a few days, usually between the last week of September and early October, the streets of the historic center fill with faithful, illuminations, and brass bands, in an atmosphere that blends spirituality and tradition.

The origins and history of the devotion

The cult of Saint Rosalia, the hermit virgin and patron saint of Palermo, reached Santa Croce Camerina as early as the late 16th century, when the territory was governed by the Celestri family, noblemen from Palermo who made her the protector of the marquisate. The devotion strengthened over the following centuries: in 1691, Canon Vincenzo Celestri established funds for the annual celebrations, while the monumental wooden vara (processional float) was crafted in 1810, the year the first solemn procession took place on September 4th. Since then, the festival has become an integral part of the community's civil and religious calendar.

The novena and preparatory rites

The festivities are preceded by a preparatory novena at the Saint John the Baptist Parish, marked by masses, moments of prayer, and hymns dedicated to the Saint. The descent of the statue from its chapel for the veneration of the faithful marks the beginning of the most intense days, accompanied by Eucharistic celebrations in the mother church and the participation of local marching bands that enliven the town streets.

The procession of the vara

• The most anticipated moment is the solemn procession of the imposing float with the statue of Saint Rosalia, which takes place on Sunday in the late afternoon.
• The heavy processional carriage is carried on shoulders and pushed along the streets of the center, amidst crowds, prayers, and applause.
• In recent years, a new tradition has enriched the event: women are now also allowed to participate in pushing the float during the final stretch of the route, a sign of a devotion that renews itself and opens up to the community.

Between faith and folklore in the heart of the Ragusa area

Beyond its religious dimension, the Saint Rosalia Festival is a gathering occasion for the entire population of Santa Croce Camerina and for the many emigrants who return to town for the occasion. Market stalls, musical entertainment, and traditional fireworks complete the program, offering visitors an authentic glimpse of Sicily's patronal festivals. An event that, in the heart of the Ragusa province, continues to pass down the bond between a community and its Saint from generation to generation.