San Sebastiano Festival (January)

Mistretta's winter patronal feast

The San Sebastiano Festival in January is the premier religious event of the winter in Mistretta, an ancient village nestled in the Nebrodi mountains in the province of Messina, in the heart of Sicily. The town celebrates its patron saint twice a year: on January 20th, the date of the saint's martyrdom, and on August 18th, commemorating the liberation from the plague. The January celebration retains an intimate and deeply devotional character, cherished by all the townspeople.

A centuries-old devotion

The cult of San Sebastiano in Mistretta dates back to the early 17th century, when the population invoked his intercession during a severe plague epidemic. Once the danger passed, the saint was proclaimed the city's protector. Since then, the festival has become a true cultural identity marker for the people of Mistretta: many citizens living elsewhere return to the village specifically to participate in the procession.

The 'vara' and the 'varetta'

The heart of the festival is the procession of the statue of San Sebastiano, a work by local sculptor Noè Marullo, housed in the Church of San Sebastiano. The statue is carried on a precious vara (a large processional float) made of wood and gold, commissioned in 1610 from the brothers Giuseppe and Giovan Battista Li Volsi, master carvers from Nicosia. It is an authentic masterpiece carved with scenes from the saint's life and martyrdom. The procession is led by the varetta degli Angeli (the little float of the Angels), which carries the relics and votive candles, symbols of the graces received by the faithful.

The daily program

The morning of January 20th begins with traditional blank shots and Holy Mass, followed by the tour of the saint's portrait through the processional route, accompanied by the Mistretta brass band. In the afternoon, around 4:00 PM, the solemn procession begins: the 'varetta' and then the statue emerge from the church to traverse the historic center, carried by bearers in traditional attire. The day concludes with Holy Mass and a fireworks display in the square.

A heritage to protect

Due to the richness of its rituals, artistic artifacts, and popular involvement, the San Sebastiano Festival of Mistretta is considered an intangible cultural asset of great value, currently a candidate for recognition among Sicily's intangible heritage. Witnessing this winter procession means connecting with the faith and the most authentic soul of a Nebrodi village.