Feast of Saint Lucia in Savoca
Pierpaolo.maimone - CC1.0
In Savoca every year, on the second Sunday of August, the celebrations in honor of the patron saint, Santa Lucia, take place. While on the occasion of the feast of St. Lucia, on December 13, solemn religious functions are held.
The feast consists of two moments: the solemn procession of the statue of the Saint through the streets of the village and the sacred living representation in period costumes of some scenes of the martyrdom to which Saint Lucia was subjected by the Roman governor Pascasio, in 303 AD
The protagonist of the representation are the little "Lucia" and "u Diavulazzu". The little Lucia it is played by a little girl in a white dress who is carried on the shoulder by a man from the village along the streets of the historic center. During the performance the little girl is tempted by the Roman soldiers, the Jews, who try to drag her with oxen by pulling and swaying the rope to which "Lucia" is tied. The other central character of the representation it is the devil, "u Diavulazzu" or "u virseriu", who, dressed in red, wears a terrifying seventeenth-century wooden mask and carries a fork in his hand. The devil, throughout the performance, tempts "Lucia".
This festival has Spanish origins as evidenced by the presence of oxen. The final scene of the performance, which takes place in the main square of Savoca, is very reminiscent of the feast of San Firmino in Pamplona. Lucia freed from the rope allows the oxen to escape through the alleys of the town. The flight of the "cows" of the "diavulazzu" and the "Jews", who represent the forces of evil, is the celebration of the victory of good over evil.
Dates and Scheduling
10 Aug 2024
Eve of the Feast
12:00 Festive ringing of bells and firing of cannon shots.
Piazza Fossia
16:00 Exhibition and Veneration of the Silver Simulacrum of St. Lucia.
Chiesa Madre
17:00 Appearance of the DIAVULAZZU through the streets of the historic center accompanied by the band.
18:30 Traditional Delivery of the Palm (Church of S. Michele)
Official rehearsal of the Lucia.
20:00 Torchlight procession with the wooden statue of St. Lucia, starting in Contrada Gazzani.
The girls who over the years have represented the "Martyrdom of St. Lucia" participate.
21:30 Holy Mass.
21:30 Dancing evening with the Peppers Band and with the participation of Sergio Chicos.
Piazza Fossia
11 Aug 2024
Feast of Saint Lucia
05:30 - 24:00 The Church will remain open for personal and silent prayer.
Chiesa Madre
06:00 Festive ringing of bells and firing of cannon shots.
06:00 - 08:30 Sacrament of Confession
Chiesa Madre
06:30 Holy Mass
08:00 Holy Mass
Chiesa Madre
08:30 Tour through the streets of the historic center of DIAVULAZZU accompanied by the band
09:30 Holy Mass.
Chiesa Madre
10:30 - 11:30 Confession
Chiesa Madre
12:00 Ringing of all the bells in the country and firing cannons.
17:00 Traditional Living Representation of the Martyrdom of St. Lucia.
20:30 Eucharistic celebration followed by procession with the Silver Simulacrum of Saint Lucia
22:30 Live music con Max e Tess Acoustic Duo
Piazza Fossia
24:00 Draw and fireworks show.
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References
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