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posted Sunday, July 5, 2009 |
Every year, Palermitans celebrate a week-long religious and folk-like ceremony honoring their patron saint (i.e. Santa Rosalia) and to celebrate the ending of the black plague.
The Festino di Santa Rosalia can be traced back to 1624 when Santa Rosalia's bones were found in a cave. The cave is now a place of pilgrimage, inside a chapel on top of Mt. Pellegrino, which offers the most breath-taking views of Palermo.
Legend has it that plague was over after they transported the bones around the city 3 times.
The celebrations start about a week before the culmination on July 15 which include street theaters, jugglers, food displays, fireworks, etc. Then on the 15th, a statue of the saint is paraded all through the city streets on top of a cart which is pulled by oxen and an entourage of orchestra and little girls dressed in traditional, typical Sicilian costume.
The celebrations start about a week before the culmination on July 15 which include street theaters, jugglers, food displays, fireworks, etc. Then on the 15th, a statue of the saint is paraded all through the city streets on top of a cart which is pulled by oxen and an entourage of orchestra and little girls dressed in traditional, typical Sicilian costume.
