Page 64 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

December 8 Immaccolata, Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

December 25 Natale, Christmas Day

December 26 Santo Stefano, St Stephen’s Day

A festival calendar

JANUARY

New Year celebrations Taormina (from Jan 1). Puppet shows, folk-singing and

concerts, ending on Epiphany (January 6).

Epiphany (Jan 6). Orthodox procession at Piana degli Albanesi; traditional costumes
and the distribution of oranges. Elsewhere the Epiphany witch Befana gives stockings
of sweets to children who’ve been good, and coal (made of black sugar honeycomb)
to those who haven’t.

FEBRUARY

Sagra del Mandorlo Fiore (first/second week). The almond-blossom festival sees
elaborately costumed dancers and musicians from around the world perform in the

Valle dei Templi and in Agrigento town.

Festa di Sant’Agata Catania (Feb 3–5). Boisterous street events, fireworks and food
stalls, and a procession of the saint’s relics.

Carnevale (weekend before Lent). Carnival festivities in Palazzolo Acreide, Cefalù,
Taormina, Giardini Naxos and Acireale with processions, floats, fireworks and

music.

MARCH

San Giuseppe (March 19). On the Saturday closest to San Giuseppe, horses,
astonishingly decorated with flowers, follow the Holy Family through town in a
candlelit procession at Scicli. On March 19 at Malfa, Salina, participants feast on
pasta and ceci (chickpeas) cooked in huge cauldrons, along with antipasti and
puddings made by local people, presided over by locals dressed as Mary, Joseph and

Jesus. Repeated in April at Lingua, and on May 1 in Leni.

Easter (dates vary). Celebrations islandwide.

APRIL

St George’s Day. There’s a costumed procession and statues paraded through the