San Placido 'u granni' Festival (Patronal Feast)

A patronal feast with an ancient heart

The San Placido 'u granni' Festival is the most anticipated religious and popular event in Castel di Lucio, a village in the Nebrodi mountains in the Province of Messina, in the heart of Sicily. The cult of the martyr saint is renewed every year on August 20th with a celebration that blends deep devotion with folkloric traditions passed down through generations. The festival is called 'u granni' (the great one) precisely because it takes place in mid-summer, when the many emigrants from Castel di Lucio return home to join the festivities, unlike the autumn edition on October 5th, known as 'u picciddu' (the small one).

Rituals leading up to the procession

The calendar of celebrations is marked by three highly symbolic ritual moments:

• 'A cchianata di San Plà (the ascent of Saint Placido): during the novena, before the Vespers and the August 20th mass, the saint's statue is placed on an altar equipped with a winch mechanism that slowly raises it, symbolizing the martyr's ascent to heaven.
• 'A calata a cira (the descent of the wax): on the eve of the feast, the saint's relics are carried in procession from the small church of Santa Lucia to the Mother Church, accompanied by the faithful holding large lit candles offered as a vow, which are extinguished upon arrival at the church.
• 'A prucissioni (the procession): on the day of the feast, the wooden statue, dating back to 1599, travels through the village streets accompanied by confraternities, clergy, and local authorities.

The 'ballatedda' and the 'vippite'

Among the most characteristic elements is the 'ballatedda i San Plà', the choreography performed by the bearers to the sound of the band, making the statue 'dance'. Along the route, several stops are made, known as 'vippite', during which the bearers and the faithful are refreshed with biscuits, wine, and drinks according to local custom. In a second phase, the procession route is decided directly by the people, and just before returning to the Mother Church, there is a fireworks display. It is also tradition for children to carry small statues on their shoulders.

Devotion, community, and village celebration

Beyond its religious dimension, the festival enlivens the entire town of Castel di Lucio for days with moments of conviviality, music, and performances in the square. For the people of Castel di Lucio scattered around the world, the summer edition of San Placido represents, above all, an opportunity to return to their roots and rediscover their community—a deep bond with the history and identity of this corner of the Nebrodi mountains.

The dates for the 2026 edition are confirmed for August 20th, while the detailed program with times and civil initiatives has not yet been published by the organizers.