San Calogero Festival (Patronal Feast of Cesarò)

A patronal feast celebrated twice a year

The San Calogero Festival is the heart of the religious and popular life of Cesarò, a mountain town in the province of Messina located at an altitude of 1,150 meters. As the second-highest town in Sicily, it is nestled in the Nebrodi Park between Monte Soro and the Biviere and Maulazzo lakes. The unique feature of this patronal feast is that it is held twice a year: on June 18th, which aligns with the liturgical calendar as the actual feast day of the Saint, and on August 21st, which originated as a thanksgiving festival for the grain harvest, in a region whose economy has historically been tied to agriculture and shepherding.

The processions and the triduum

The religious aspect revolves around the triduum and the solemn processions of the relics and the statue of San Calogero, which are carried through the streets of Cesarò's historic center and followed with great fervor by the faithful. The race of the fercolo, pulled by the local youth, is one of the most intense and participatory moments of the festival.

The Questua and the weighing of children

Among the most ancient and evocative traditions is the Questua: members of the organizing committee, accompanied by a brass band, collect offerings door-to-door. Linked to a vow to the Saint is the weighing of children (the "pisate"), an ancient ritual where families would promise San Calogero an amount of grain equal to the weight of their firstborn, shouting "Bon pisu e saluti: viva San Caloriu!".

The livestock fair and the Palio of Cesarò

Both annual festivals are preceded by the historic livestock fair, held on June 16th-17th and August 19th-20th. In the past, this ancient market lasted up to eight days and attracted thousands of animals and merchants from all over Sicily, selling textiles, agricultural tools, jewelry, and food supplies. During the August festivities, the Palio of Cesarò also takes place, a folkloric equestrian event that attracts jockeys from across the island and showcases different horse breeds.

Entertainment and fireworks

Alongside the religious rites, there are popular games, horse parades, and musical performances as part of the Estate Cesarese (Cesarò Summer), which enliven the town squares until the traditional fireworks that close the festivities. The San Calogero Festival thus represents the occasion where the community of Cesarò, in Sicily, renews its bond with its Patron Saint, its rural roots, and the Nebrodi landscape every year.