Ragusa, A Town With Two Patron Saints
All cities in Italy are dedicated to a Saint, but the city of Ragusa, Sicily, has not one, but two Patron Saints. In the day, who are dedicated to their Patron Saint, are lively Italian cities with celebrations and many interesting events that tourists and visitors from other cities, regions and countries taking not only the inhabitants of the city who want to keep this tradition alive, but also who seize the opportunity to take part in festivities to enjoy a very special and typical feature of the culture of a city. In the case of Ragusa, a beautiful Sicilian city, is not only a chance to enjoy this tradition, because the inhabitants of the city on two Saints are dedicated, that’s why the celebrations are doubled. The patron saint of Ragusa are John of the Baptist and George, two Saints who helped Ragusa and its inhabitants in the past, and that are still remembered and celebrated for this reason. In the past there was a kind of competition between the two parts of the city, and everyone celebrated only one of these Saints, but today this rivalry no longer really exists, and both saints are celebrated in different days and parts of the city in a very prunkvollere way. But on special occasions, the saints have made: in the year 2000, the year of the Jubilee, for example, “the Church, which is dedicated to the other patron visited” every Saint. But apart from these special occasions celebrations in honor of St.
John of the Baptist and Georg vary greatly from each other and take place at different times of the year. “The George’s day falls on the last Sunday in May and is in the part of the city, the also Ragusa Ibla” is called instead. The statue of the Heiligens on the streets of the city in a long procession is held on Saint George’s day, the Church bears the name of Heiligens, is decorated with flowers, flags and lights, and the Heiligens statue in the middle of the Church, so that all followers to worship him. The streets are with lights and colors decorated, and if the statue outside of the St. George is worn for the procession with his relics, a band begins to play. The John day is celebrated in the upper part of the city on August 29, the day of the martyrdom of Heiligens.
The festivities in honor of St. John of the Baptist are more solemnly than the honour of St. George, and while George’s day has now more as a folklore event is seen, the John day still a very important religious significance. On August 29, the statue of the Heiligens on the central altar is found and is also on the streets, while the faithful follow it with candles. John day ends with Fireworks. This article was written by Francesca Tessarollo using seaside holiday in Sicily.
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