Feast of the Madonna Child

The feast of Maria SS. Child takes place every two years, in the small church dedicated to Maria SS. delle Grazie, in the district Overlooking, a few kilometers from the historic center of Calatafimi. It is a festival that combines faith and folklore, a festival rich in traditions. It is said in fact that, after the First World War, certainly Mr. Giuseppe Avila, devoted to the Madonna delle Grazie, having embraced his four children who had returned unharmed from the war, wanted to reconstruct, due to a promise made, the prospectus of the church in order to give to the same greater dignity. Mr. Avila also took an interest in worship, making you celebrate Holy Mass every Sunday and celebrate the nativity of Maria SS. Child, donating to this end a statuette owned by her family, currently still venerated inside the Church of theOverlooking.

The celebrations in honor of the child Madonna usually begin on the morning of September 5 with firecrackers and the peal of sacred bronzes. Then, in the late afternoon of September 5th, after the Holy Mass celebrated at the Church of San Michele, the historical re-enactment of the transport of Maria SS. Child from the Church of San Michele, where the statuette is kept, to the Church of the Madonna delle Grazie, where she will remain during the days of the festivities. The following day, 6 September, also in the late afternoon, the recitation of the Holy Rosary, the Holy Mass and the blessing of the girls and boys born in the last year take place at the "Church of the Child". September 7 is generally the day of the celebrations dedicated to games for children, a good opportunity to nourish the most needy and entertain the little ones. Finally, on the morning of September 8, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and last day of celebrations, the firecrackers and the bell of the sacred bronzes follow the tour through the streets of the city of the Calatafimi Segesta musical band. Then, in the evening, after the Eucharistic celebration at the Church of theOverlooking, the Procession of the simulacrum of Maria SS. Little girl with final pyrotechnic games.