Vara and Messina August – Giants' Cavalcade

An iconic festival on the Strait

The Messina August is the beating heart of the popular traditions of Messina, in Sicily. For over a week, the capital of the Strait celebrates the Madonna Assunta (Our Lady of the Assumption) with a series of religious rites, re-enactments, and performances that draw thousands of locals and visitors. Two main events define the festival: the Cavalcade of the Giants Mata and Grifone and the solemn procession of the Vara, both profound symbols of the city.

The Giants Mata and Grifone

From August 10th to 14th, the streets of Messina welcome the Giants, two imposing eight-meter-tall papier-mâché statues depicting the mythical founders of the city: Mata, the local maiden, and Grifone, the Moorish warrior converted to Christianity. Mounted on large horses and accompanied by a camel and a festive costumed procession, the two Giants are led through the city's districts, dancing to the rhythm of drums. The parade traditionally concludes in front of Palazzo Zanca, the City Hall, where the Giants remain until the day of the Vara.

The Vara, a 16th-century votive machine

On August 15th, the day of Ferragosto and the Assumption, the procession of the Vara takes place. This grand, spectacular 16th-century pyramidal votive machine stands about fourteen meters high and weighs several tons. The structure, composed of cloud-shaped beams supporting figures of angels, apostles, and finally the Madonna assumed into heaven, is pulled by hand through the historic center by hundreds of barefoot devotees dressed in white with blue sashes. The route starts from Piazza Castronovo, crosses the central Via Garibaldi, and ends in Piazza Duomo, in front of the Cathedral.

Rites, devotion, and folklore

• The ceremony of the tying of the ropes, the large hemp cords used by the pullers to haul the Vara
• The pontifical mass in the Cathedral presided over by the Archbishop of Messina
• The spectacular girata, the maneuver of turning the machine through the narrow alleys of the center
• The water trucks that wet the pavement to reduce friction during the haul
• The evening fireworks over the Strait, the grand finale of the day

A tradition of faith and city life

The Feast of the Assumption in Messina is rooted in centuries of Marian devotion. 2026 marks the symbolic centenary of the resumption of the procession (1926-2026), a testament to a continuity that spans generations. Promoted by the Municipality of Messina together with the Curia and the Gruppo Storico della Vara, the Messina August weaves the sacred and the profane into a calendar that also includes historical re-enactments, exhibitions, concerts, and shows, making the province of Messina and Sicily the stage for one of the most heartfelt popular festivals in Southern Italy.