In August Cefalù celebrates the Festa del Santissimo Salvatore
June 18, 2013If you find yourself to stay in the province of Palermo, in Sicily, in August, do not miss the historic Festa del Santissimo Salvatore della Trasfigurazione (Feast of the Transfiguration of the Holy Saviour), which is celebrated every year in Cefalù from the 2nd to the 6th of August. It is a traditional religious celebration that originated in an episode of the Gospel in which Jesus, after being secluded with the disciples Peter, James and John, changed aspect showing them his beautiful and his white robes.
The town of Cefalù is historically devoted to the Holy Saviour from the construction of the Cathedral Basilica by the Norman King Ruggero II, where it was designed and built a huge mosaic depicting Christ Pantocrator.
The festivities begin on August the 2nd, with the display of a flag with the image of Christ Pantocrator between the towers of the cathedral, and end with the hauling down of this flag on August 10th. The most important day of the festival is August 6th: the morning is marked by celebrations, while in the afternoon there is the characteristic game of 'Ntinna a mari (sea antenna), which consists of spreading a pole covered with grease and soap over the sea . At the end of the pole is placed the flag and the aim of the game is to recover it. There are always a lot of competitors and the situation is very comical.
In the late afternoon the solemn procession of the Holy Saviour takes place, followed by the traditional fireworks over the sea.
For more information, please visit the website: http://www.comune.cefalu.pa.it/
