LA VARA

In the middle of August occur the great feast of Messina Ferragosto. A tradition which involve at least two thousand devoted people, who are dressed with blue and white clothing and in a barefoot way while they shouting“VIVA MARIA” with the mission to pull strings of a length of 230 m and with a thickness of5 cmit is hooked to a metal procession which reaches the 13,50 meters high and weighing 8 tons.With the intention to achieve slide it by the wet avenue “Via Garibaldi” of Messina.

This tradition takes place from the first time in 1.535 born with the sense of “Triumphal Chariot” due to the victorious entry into the city in the same year by the Carlos V emperor.

This procession is dedicated to the Virgen Asunción and begins its journey of 2 Kmat 19.00 o’clock after the commander of LA VARA give the permission to transfer it from Piazza Castronovo to the Duomo.

Originally all the figures that can be seen in LA VARA were people, the angels were children while virgin who does a girl was chosen by a draw. This changed due to various accidents occurred1.681 and the 1.738, which caused great social protest by replacing the angels by figures of wood and papier mache from 1.866.

The event besides of congregating believers, reach gather visitors from various parts of Sicilia and even from Italy, could get over 200.000 people.

At the end of the party, the best is enjoy eating a good piece of Focaccia Messinese watching the fireworks, while the lights Reggio Calabria are sighted and how is iluminated the Madonna della Lettera.