San Domenico Savio Festival

A rediscovered tradition in the heart of Scordia Alta

The San Domenico Savio Festival is the patronal celebration of the Scordia Alta district, a suburban area of the municipality of Scordia, in the province of Catania, which developed starting in the 1960s. After being a tradition that seemed lost for years, the festival was revived in 2012 and has returned to being an unmissable event for the residents of the neighborhood and the entire town in the Calatino area, in the heart of Sicily.

When it takes place

The festivities are concentrated in the second week of July and span several days. The highlight is Sunday, the main day dedicated to the Saint's solemnity, preceded by a three-day spiritual preparation (triduum). While the liturgical feast of San Domenico Savio falls on May 6th, the community in Scordia has chosen the summer for its major popular celebrations.

The triduum and religious celebrations

The spiritual heart of the festival is the triduum, three days of Eucharistic celebrations presided over by priests and often by the Bishop of Caltagirone, with the participation of all the parish communities of Scordia. The days are dedicated to different themes: joy, communion, life, and family. Significant moments include the blessing of expectant mothers, the presentation of the San Domenico Savio scapular, and the entrustment of children born in the last year, a sign of the Saint's special bond with the little ones.

The evening procession and fireworks

The most evocative moment is the Sunday evening procession: after Holy Mass, the statue and the relic of the Saint—a bone kept in a reliquary and displayed for the veneration of the faithful—are carried through the streets of the parish. The streets are decorated with blankets, drapes, flags, and altars prepared by the residents, who welcome the procession with firework displays in a setting of great popular participation.

Music, choirs, and performances

Alongside the religious dimension, the festival offers a rich entertainment program: concerts, dance recitals, folk performances, and activities for children. Among the most characteristic events is the "Laetantes in Choro" polyphonic choral festival, which attracts choirs from various parts of Sicily, as well as evenings dedicated to young people with talent shows and choreographies by local dance academies.

Street food and crafts

Throughout the festivities, the churchyard hosts a mini street food area and a craft market every evening, enlivening the nights and completing the festive atmosphere of the district. There are also sports and recreational moments, such as tournaments and gatherings involving both adults and children.