Worship and events
Aidone
Holy Week and Easter Sunday.
The festival begins on Palm Sunday, when the 12 apostles (known to the people as holy men) walk through the streets of Aidone and all arrive in front of the main door of the church dedicated to the martyr Saint Lawrence.
Holy Week opens on Monday with the procession of the Confraternity of the Annunziata, followed by all the other Confraternities marching through the city streets. These processions include groups singing the QUARANTORE, Sicilian songs dedicated to the Passion of Jesus Christ (e.g., Li vintaquattrura, a Crucisanta, and a Cavalleria).
On Holy Thursday, all the Churches place symbols related to the fertility of the earth on their altars, such as ears of wheat and loaves of bread. At the same time, all the Confraternities make a complete tour of the processions, based on a theme proposed by the parish community (e.g., the consecrated host – Peace, etc.). The Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament concludes the procession cycle, followed by the musical band.
On Good Friday, at dusk, the Confraternity carries the empty coffin from the Church of Santa Maria Annunziata to the mother church of San Lorenzo, which is packed with a crowd waiting to celebrate the descent of JESUS CHRIST from the Cross.
On Easter Sunday, the Giunta (meeting) between the Risen Christ and His Mother takes place, with the special presence of the Santoni (Sanctuaries). In the late morning, the statue of the Risen Christ leaves the Mother Church of San Lorenzo, carried by the Confraternities of SS. Maria SS. delle Grazie and dell’Annunziata, along with their apostles. They then proceed in procession to the place where, by tradition, Christ is placed.
Saint Philip the Apostle
The tradition of Saint Philip the Apostle, a saint venerated on May 1st by believers from around fifty towns on the island, dates back to a very remote period.
Every year on May 1st, the statue of Saint Philip the Apostle is carried in procession through all the streets of the town. The silver reliquary and the statue are kept in the dedicated Chapel of Saint Philip, inside the Church of Santa Maria Lo Plano (La Cava), home of the Sanctuary dedicated to Saint Philip, with three keys, one of which is held by the Procurator and the other two by the masters of the church.
When leaving the church, the statue is carried with its back turned, to prevent it from leaving the town in the direction of Piazza Armerina. This is due to an ancient dispute with that town and the tradition that the saint grants miracles more readily to strangers. The faithful, coming from throughout the province of Enna and beyond, make long pilgrimages on foot to ask for grace or to give thanks for graces received and, according to tradition, present themselves before the statue with a lit candle.
It is said that the apostle drives away with his staff those who persistently ask for mercy without faith. Looking closely at the restored statue, one notices that Saint Philip’s face is very similar to that depicted on a silver coin from Morgantina dating back to 213-211 BC, which features Zeus.
Saint Lawrence Patron Saint of Aidone
Saint Lawrence the Martyr is the patron saint of Aidone (in Sicily, unlike other regions like Lombardy, Piedmont, and Lazio, very few municipalities have this saint as their patron saint—just three). His feast day falls during the most fruitful period for a rural society like Aidone’s, harvest time, when people could finally afford to celebrate. Today, the festival is also dedicated to emigrants; it coincides with traditional summer events: tournaments, musical performances, and bands. It concludes with the most anticipated fireworks display, which begins at midnight on the 10th, coinciding with the shower of stars! The Parish Museum of the church of the same name houses testimonies to the saint’s faith, including an interesting 17th-century canvas depicting his bloody martyrdom, a 16th-century parchment attesting to the authenticity of the relic kept in a silver arm, and other objects of traditional worship.
