SAINT AGATA FESTIVAL

Last week was the big festival to honor Catania's patron Saint Agata! My friend Amber and I got a chance to take the bus there to enjoy the festivities. It was so exciting! The whole city was decorated in lights! There were giant candles for sale everywhere to help the people to show adoration to the lovely Saint. Street vendors were everywhere with special candies, fruit, doughnuts and the wonderful Nutella-filled crepes! People in the Piazza Duomo in Catania were packed in like sardines, dressed in white robes with little black caps and wearing ribbons featuring Agata's portrait. Here's what the Piazza looked like:







Amber and I were lucky enough to meet a great Italian family who spoke English well, running one of the little "Saint Shops" in town. These are the stores that sell statues of the saints, necklaces, bracelets, rosaries, you name it! Ornella and Joseph were a great couple who ran one store. They were there with Joseph's mother, and together they told us the remarkable story of Saint Agata!

CLICK HERE TO READ HER STORY

When Agata's statue came out of the church to be carried around town, the people cheered and shouted "You're so beautiful!" to her. They waved white handkerchiefs at her and fireworks went off. It was amazing!