Saint Venera: virgin, martyr and preacher
The patron saint of the city of Avola is Saint Venera, a Christian martyr who lived during the 2nd century AD. Unfortunately, the information on the life of this Saint is unclear, in fact she appears in various sources but with variations in her name: Venera, Veneranda or Parasceve. The cult of Santa Venera, already celebrated in the Byzantine period, probably established itself in Sicily with greater force in the Norman period, in addition to Avola, in the cities of Grotte and Acireale (of which she is also Patron Saint), and in Acicatena (where according to tradition was beheaded).
At the site of Avola Antica there was a church dedicated to the Saint, who from 1647 became Patron Saint of the city. After the 1693 earthquake and following the reconstruction of the city of Avola, a new church named after the Saint was planned and built (today in Theater Square). Inside the religious building it is possible to admire, on feast days, the statue that in 1863 was commissioned in the wooden part to the Neapolitan Raffaele Abbate and in the silver foil covering to the Catanian Emanuele Puglisi Caudullo.
To reconstruct the celebrations in honor of Santa Venera between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries it is possible to deduce information from some chronicles of the time, and from Bianca’s writing, Descrizione delle feste triduane di Santa Venera solennizzate nel luglio 1887, published in the same year.
Until the beginning of the twentieth century, as for the feast of San Sebastiano, the celebrations lasted the whole month and began with the morning ringing of the first day of July, furthermore nine days before the 26th the novena began with praise and music.
On the occasion of the festival, the central square was illuminated with spherical crystal lamps and here tables were set up for the sale of sweets and candies (sanfirricci), toys and trumpets for children and haberdashery items.
Horse races took place in the afternoon hours, this tradition grew over time, so much so that the “Santa Venera Horse Palio” was established, lasting four days, but in 2006, for safety reasons it was suppressed by the Prefecture.
In ancient times the solemn procession took place on the 26th, but subsequently the celebration was moved to the last Sunday of July. The patron saint is also remembered in Avola on November 14th, the day on which the transfer of the relics is celebrated. On this occasion, the chapel which houses the statue is reopened and is incensed among the songs and prayers of the faithful.
The most important day of the holiday is the last Sunday of July with the offering of the votive candle to the patron saint by the municipal administration and with the evening procession that weaves its ways through the city streets and its arrival in Piazza Umberto I.
The following day (Monday on Santa Vennira) represented for many a day of rest from work, but the activities carried out on this day also underwent an evolution; in the past, farmers or those who worked in the countryside, with the help of their family or relatives, harvested or harvested almonds, while those belonging to the wealthier classes spent the day at the seaside, ate on the beach and played some games of physical ability. Subsequently it became a day of leisure for the entire Avolese community.
Nowadays, tourists and residents, after spending the day on the beach, stroll in the evening hours along the streets of the historic center waiting for the concert, with artists known on the national and international scene, which is held every year in Piazza Umberto I. The evening ends with a large fireworks show.
Another unmissable event of the feast of Saint Venera is the octave, or the following Sunday. In the past it was a day of celebration spent with the family, often people spent on the beach or those who had the opportunity took a boat trip; the day ended with an evening procession of the statue of the Saint which followed a longer route and also involved the neighborhoods of the city. As regards the last two decades, the octave of Santa Venera turns out to be a particular anniversary for the Avolese community and for the tourists who frequent it especially in the summer period. In the afternoon hours people gather at the seaside village or stop along the coast of Avola, to watch the procession of boats which from 2023 leaves from the small port of Falaride and then arrives at the seaside village. The first boat carries a copy of the statue of Santa Venera, the parish priest and the deacon of the church of Santa Venera, and some members of the Administration; behind it winds a procession of fishing boats, boats and motorboats.
After docking, mass is celebrated at the stage set up for the occasion.
