There are several locations in the province of Trapani in which the recurrence of St. Joseph is celebrated in a special way, but in Marettimo, the most distant island of the Aegean archipelago, the celebrations take on a very solemn character, because St. Joseph is the island´s patron saint.
The celebrations begin with a novena and the image of the saint is shown in a series of "altars" specially set up in the homes of Marettimo.
In addition to the icon of St. Joseph and all the Holy Family are exposed other objects like three oranges, "cucciddrati" (bread), the "panuzzi", lit candles, vases filled with barcu and a flower called wallflower sinuata which flourishes in Marettimo in the period of March.
We all know that most communities are small, the more its members are more united and in this frame of unity, where everyone knows everyone else, that you live intensely this novena; even in this period it is still winter, for the solemnity of the March 19 rush many tourists to relive the atmosphere with joy, that only a country community can recreate.
On Christmas Eve there is a sort of flag raising with the icon of St. Joseph and the background echo the musical notes of the country band, that in procession through the streets of the village to gather the necessary resources that are used in the evening for traditional rite of "Duminiara", which consists in lighting three piles of bundles of wood, composed of shrubs collected and dried in the island, which are set on fire, because the three fires that burn represent Jesus, Joseph and Mary, that is, Holy Family.
Do not forget that St. Joseph, although it represents an almost liturgically secondary figure, is considered by the Catholic Church the foster father of Jesus.
Very impressive are the choruses that rise at the Saint.
After this period of preparation finally it arrives on March 19, which this year falls on a Sunday, and begins with the band, which runs through the town´s streets, while the main square is decorated with a stage decorated with flowers in celebration.
After the celebration of the Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Trapani, Msgr. Pietro Maria Fragnelli, prepares lunch with a beautiful set table.
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