Feast of SS. Salvatore in Cefalù
The feast of the Most Holy Savior is the main feast of Cefalù, dedicated to the patron saint of the village. It is celebrated from 2 to 6 August.
On 2 August the celebrations begin with the unfolding of the Flag of Christ Pantocrator at the center of the two towers of the Basilica-Cathedral, accompanied by the sound of festive bells, the firing of firecrackers, and from the tour of the streets and squares of the musical band. In the days preceding the feast, groups of faithful take part in the traditional novena, singing hymns in dialect and thanksgiving prayers in front of the votive shrine in via Candeloro, in the ancient Giudecca district.
In the afternoon of August 6, the traditional game that takes the name of 'ntinna a mare, or "antenna to the sea". It is a competition wanted by the fishermen and they are curated, organized and realized. A game that, in its simplicity, describes the deep bond between man and the sea. The competition sees young and old fishermen stretched out in the balance on a sort of horizontal cuccagna tree, to conquer the banner of the Savior attached to the tip of this very long trunk made slippery by animal fat and firmly fixed to the quay. Whoever manages to take the flag underlines the victory with the cry "Long live the Holy Savior".
It is believed that the origins of this race derive from the game played by the sailors on the ancient sailing ships which, in the part of the bow, had a mast called Bowsprit.
In the late afternoon the solemn and evocative procession of the S.S. Savior.
On 2 August the celebrations begin with the unfolding of the Flag of Christ Pantocrator at the center of the two towers of the Basilica-Cathedral, accompanied by the sound of festive bells, the firing of firecrackers, and from the tour of the streets and squares of the musical band. In the days preceding the feast, groups of faithful take part in the traditional novena, singing hymns in dialect and thanksgiving prayers in front of the votive shrine in via Candeloro, in the ancient Giudecca district.
In the afternoon of August 6, the traditional game that takes the name of 'ntinna a mare, or "antenna to the sea". It is a competition wanted by the fishermen and they are curated, organized and realized. A game that, in its simplicity, describes the deep bond between man and the sea. The competition sees young and old fishermen stretched out in the balance on a sort of horizontal cuccagna tree, to conquer the banner of the Savior attached to the tip of this very long trunk made slippery by animal fat and firmly fixed to the quay. Whoever manages to take the flag underlines the victory with the cry "Long live the Holy Savior".
It is believed that the origins of this race derive from the game played by the sailors on the ancient sailing ships which, in the part of the bow, had a mast called Bowsprit.
In the late afternoon the solemn and evocative procession of the S.S. Savior.
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References
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