Feast of Our Lady of the Snow of Giarratana
On 5 August of each year, a great feast in Giarratana in honor of Maria SS. Of the Heavenly Snow Patroness of the town. The splendid simulacrum of the Madonna, kept in the basilica of S. Antonio Abate, is traditionally carried in procession on 5 August each year, less than twenty days before the other great feast, that of the patron saint S. Bartolomeo apostolo.
At the feast of the Madonna della Neve there is great participation of the faithful, and many devotees are engaged in carrying the simulacrum of the Madonna on her artistic fercolo through the streets of the town. At 12.00, the bells of the basilica begin to swing inviting the people to celebrate the solemn exit of the patron saint, preceded by the ancient banner of the Archicofraternity, with the firing of numerous multicolored ribbons (nzajareḍḍi), the sound of the musical band and the relaxed applause of the faithful who rushed to greet the Virgin Mary.
The devotees, after having raised the fercolo in the air, with their arms outstretched, and after having performed several maneuvers back and forth in front of the basilica, start running and tackle the climb with great determination, concluding at the top with the general applause of the bystanders . Thus begins the procession, which goes almost immediately, after passing in front of the mother church, towards the church of S. Bartolomeo Apostolo. There, we witness the suggestive climb to the Church of S. Bartolomeo, through a very steep flight of stairs. This operation requires the collation of outsiders, in fact, many gather around the fercolo in an attempt to support it, to push it, to raise it, until it is inside the Church where there will only be a few minutes of prayer, in presence of the patron displayed on the main altar. Then the procession starts again and continues through the streets of the town, crosses alleys and streets, and goes up towards the Mother Church, where the fercolo and the Madonna will be hosted. In the afternoon there is the traditional dinner where the typical sweets and dishes are offered to the Patroness and sold at auction. In the evening, another procession concludes the celebrations. At about midnight a grandiose fireworks display closes the patronal celebrations.
Photo: https://www.insiemeragusa.it/2019/08/02/a-giarratana-la-madonna-della-neve-con-un-richiamo-al-silenzio-interiore/
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Technical sheet prepared by: Region of Sicily - Department of cultural heritage and Sicilian identity - CRicd: Regional center for inventory, cataloging and documentation and Sicilian regional film library
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