2003 - Part 2 500th Anniversary Festa della Madonna del Monte Celebration

Описание: This is part 2 of a 5 part series produced by Professore Sam Migliore, of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the statue of the Virgin Mary in 1503 in North Africa by a group of hunters led by the Count of Castronovo. This event is commemorated through an annual feast of the Madonna del Monte, one of the most important religious festivals in Sicily and also celebrated in Hamilton, Ontario.

According to legend, the hunters were caught in a violent storm on the northern coast of Africa. "Seeking shelter from the tempest, they hid in a nearby cave. As the hunters were praying for the storm to subside, the count caught sight of "an ancient wall" within the cave. Ordering it dismantled, he uncovered a statue of the Virgin Mary and Child. No sooner had the discovery been made than the storm ended. Placing the statue on the ship, they immediately set sail for Sicily. Upon arriving at the port of Girgenti, the statue was put on a cart and the party began its trek north to Castronovo. All went well until the cart and attendants reached Racalmuto. Here, the cart sank into a pool of mud and nothing could move it. The Count of Racalmuto was impressed by this turn of events and asked that the statue remain in the town. At first, the Castronovi refused, but when nothing could move the cart, an agreement was reached and the statue remained" (E. Cumbo)

This feast is celebrated by Racalmutesi on both sides of the Atlantic in Hamilton, Ontario and Racalmuto Sicily.