The Feast of the Immaculate Conception marks the beginning of the Christmas holidays. The feast is celebrated in the Church of Saint Francis, also called the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
In front of the church there is a long line of market stalls. They sell lupines, bilberries, and another tasty fruit called holy oil.
In the square, which we citizens of Enna call Saint Francis Square, even though its real name is Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, the city band plays their wind instruments, drums, and cymbals nonstop.
Th litter with the statue of the Virgin Mary on it comes out from the church. At least fifty brethren dressed in white robes and blue mantillas bear the heavy litter on their shoulders.
The city band follows the litter and everybody goes into the procession behind the band.
This is an excerpt from A Hidden Sicilian History
Ettore Grillo author of these books:
– November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily
– A Hidden Sicilian History
– The Vibrations of Words
– Travels of the Mind
Ettore Grillo's Blog 