Viva Sant’Aita

The ancient art of crochet reminds us of our grandmothers, reminds us of a Sicily that has always existed and that you can still admire both in large cities and, above all, in small towns, where women, sitting outside the door of the house, sew and talk, talk and sew, as hundreds of years ago. Sicilian embroideries have always been among the most beautiful in the world.
Sant’Agatha is the patron saint of the city of Catania. Her feast, which takes place from February  3rd to the 5th , is one of the most picturesque in the world. Agatha was born in the 3rd century, when the Christian world was on the point of undermining the pagan one. The beautiful young woman was the victim of the attentions of the governor of Catania Quinziano and at his refusal was martyred and killed (February 5, 251). Since then she became a heroine for both Christians and pagans. The cannalori, wooden carts with a large candle in the center that represent the guilds of arts and crafts of the city, are carried on the shoulder with a classic dancing gait that allows an easier movement. They go around all the streets of the city shouting: “: “Tutti, devoti tutti! Viva Sant’Aita” (Everybody, everybody devoted! Viva Sant’Agata”)

(photo) Sant’Agata feast, 1915