Feast of San Giuseppe in Ribera
The celebrations in honor of St. Joseph in Ribera take place from the Sunday before the feast day until March 19, the day of the feast.
The traditional "entry of the laurel" takes place on the Sunday preceding the festival. It is a parade of men on horseback holding laurel branches richly decorated with multicolored ribbons followed by the "stràula" or "Stragula", that is high tower, homage to St. Joseph. "is a tower of about 10 meters built on a chariot, harnessed with laurel branches and different forms of blessed bread," cadduri ", linked together, a sign of abundance. The blessed bread is, at the end of the procession , distributed to the participants. The cart is pulled by richly decorated oxen and in the center of the tower there is the picture of St. Joseph, the "father of providence".
The morning of the feast day, the Group of pilgrims, consisting of Saint Joseph, the Madonna and the Infant Jesus on a donkey, followed by the 12 Apostles, go to visit the traditional "Altars", set up inside the houses of the devotees. The large tables are set with many typical Sicilian dishes , excluding meat, where St. Joseph comes to ask for refreshment by beating with his flowered stick. And when the "mistress" of the altar grants her permission, all figures and tourists included are invited to eat all the good things that are found on the tables.
Dates and Scheduling
19 Mar 2025
07:00 Alborata con sparo di mortaretti; partenza da casa del Governatore sita in via R. Pilo 13 e lungo il percorso di la “Strata di li Santi".
11:30 Solemn Holy Mass at the Mother Church with the blessing of all the Josephs, the fathers and the statuettes brought by the faithful.
Chiesa Madre
13:00 Distribution of the traditional “St. Joseph's Soup” in the various Altars of the city;
17:30 Solemn Eucharistic concelebration at the Mother Church, with an invitation extended to all the civil, military and political authorities of Ribera, and to all the religious committees.
Appointment of the new Governor of the feast of St. Joseph for the year 2026.
18:30 Start of the procession of the statue of San Giuseppe along the entire route of the "Strata di li Santi" accompanied by the faithful and the musical band "The Washington Navel" of Ribera.
23:00 Return of the simulacrum to the Mother Church with a greeting to San Giuseppe and then “Acchianata di lu Santu".
23:30 Fireworks show at C.da Scirinda and near the "Figuredda".
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References
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