Celebrating Levanzo

In the panorama of Sicilian festivals and traditions, the one in honor of St. Joseph certainly occupies one of the first places. The figure of St. Joseph, husband of Mary and Jesus putative father, is much venerated in Sicily, and this is demonstrated by the high number of people with the name Giuseppe and all his derivatives: Peppe, Peppino, Pino, Giuseppa, Giusy etc. ...

Saint Joseph is the symbol of family, honesty, humility and love for simple things.

The celebrations at the Egadi Islands started on March 10th in Marettimo and then continued and ended on March 19th.

The start of the celebrations in the small Levanzo begins from Saturday 16 March to end with the procession on Tuesday 19 March.

The Patron Saint is celebrated every year with the Holy Mass and the novena of March 10, a recitation of prayers repeated for nine consecutive days in the presence of the saint, whose effigy, as well as in the church, is framed near the altars that the families set up in their own homes. A special moment is also the Saints scinnuta, dedicated to San Francesco di Paola and San Giuseppe.                   

The festive atmosphere animates the town since the eve. The evening before, everyone is present at the Duminiara rite where three piles of bundles of wood representing the Holy Family are burned. In the central fire, as tradition dictates, the old boats were burned to the cry of "Evviva u Patriarca di San Giuseppe", followed by a chorus "Vivaaa". The following day in the main square, a stage is set up decorated with myrtle 'a murtiddra' twigs. Everything is ready for the most moving moment of the party: the ritual of the Lodge evokes the flight into Egypt. And like any self-respecting party, there are musical shows, karaoke dancing evenings with prizes, and "Vampata", a meal of "sasizza arrisuta with pasta l'agghia."

An appointment to remember for next year!

(photos by Salvatore and from Facebook page La Comodissima Levanzo)