Saint Sebastian Festival

A popular feast in the Nebrodi mountains

The Saint Sebastian Festival is one of the most cherished events in the summer calendar of Motta d'Affermo, a small village perched at an altitude of approximately 670 meters in the Nebrodi hinterland, in the province of Messina, Sicily. Overlooking a hill from which the Aeolian Islands can be seen, the town welcomes a stream of faithful and emigrants every August 19th who return to their hometown to renew a vow of devotion passed down through generations.

Why it is celebrated on August 19th

According to the liturgical calendar, Saint Sebastian is celebrated on January 20th, but in Motta d'Affermo, the feast has been moved to the height of summer. This choice stems from two reasons: to allow emigrants to participate during their summer holidays and to enjoy a much more favorable climate than the harsh Nebrodi winter. Thus, every year, the martyr is honored in the heart of August, a period when the village also hosts celebrations for Saint Luke, the patron saint of the town, and Saint Roch.

The 'nuri' and the 1619 'vara'

The most anticipated moment is the processione della questua (begging procession). The statue of the saint is hoisted onto a precious 1619 vara, decorated with ribbons of a thousand colors, and entrusted to the nuri: bearers dressed in white with a red sash tied around their waists, strictly barefoot, who run while demonstrating strength and devotion. The procession follows a longer route than usual and is characterized by numerous stops, during which the blessing with the relic of Saint Sebastian is imparted and refreshment is offered to the bearers and the faithful.

The flow of the day

The day begins in the morning with traditional devotional moments and a solemn mass. A first parade moves in the early afternoon through all the town's districts, while the 'processione della questua' crosses the town, enlivening the streets of the historic center. After the evening mass, a second, shorter procession takes place, touching the main streets. The festival concludes with music and entertainment in Piazza San Luca, the hub of social life in Motta.

An identity heritage

More than just a religious recurrence, the Saint Sebastian Festival represents an identity-defining appointment for the community of Motta d'Affermo: an occasion for returning, for meeting between generations, and for rediscovering the roots of a Nebrodi village that counts only a few hundred inhabitants. The run of the 'nuri', the ribbons of the 'vara', and the blessed stops compose a popular rite that weaves faith, folklore, and collective memory.