What does Catania and Breast Cancer have in Common?

Festival of Saint Agatha: Feb. 3-5, 2010

Saint Agatha is the patron Saint of Catania. It is where she was born and martyred in the 3rd Century AD. Catania is found on the east coast of Sicily. Saint Agatha is famous for being prosecuted for her beliefs regarding celibacy and is seen in many paintings and images being tortured and punished. Amongst the many tortures she endured, such as the amputation of her breasts, she is usually depicted without breasts or carrying her excised breasts on a platter. More recently, she has been venerated as patron saint of breast cancer patients.

Although celebrations do begin in January, the real culmination of the Catania St. Agatha festival is on 3, 4, and 5 February. This religious festival is celebrated and remembered in one of the worlds' largest and most popular festivals. Three days of cult, devotion, folklore, and tradition, that stand almost alone in the world. Only the Holy Week in Seville, Spain and the Corpus Domini ceremony in Cuzco, Peru, may be compared, in terms of popularity, to the festivities that since five centuries have immutably been held in St. Agatha's honour.

For three days, Catanians and tourists swarm in the streets, numbering to almost a million. During those intense days, Catania turns into one and only crowd marching behind the Patron in many different areas of the city with many different rituals taking place. The first day of the festival a procession including many important figures in the community and local government pass through the city. While at night a huge fireworks display sparks the start of the festivities. On the days that follow many more processions take place including ones that go through Via Plebiscito, where the Ostello del Plebiscito Catania is located.

St. Agatha passes through all eight bourhoods on her silver carriage (Catanians call it, specifically, 'fercolo' or, more commonly, 'vara'). You can find the bars and restaurants full of people enjoying and taking in the festive atmosphere.There is music, houses decorated for the event, cafeterias full of people and stalls selling barbecued meat and sweets.

It's a sight not be missed. Book your hostel in Catania today!