This celebration dates back to the mid-19th century and commemorates an event believed to be miraculous: a procession led by Father Pirrelli during a long period of drought, after which rain finally arrived. Even today, the entire town comes together to relive that memory through deeply rooted and heartfelt rituals. From early morning, a group of twelve horsemen rides through the streets collecting symbolic offerings of bread, wheat, and money.
In the afternoon, the procession of the Crucifix — an evocative papier-mâché statue — moves through the city streets on an ancient Baroque vara (processional float), accompanied by sacred music and a moving, reverent silence.
The festival concludes with a touching collective prayer and a spectacular fireworks display. Visiting San Cataldo at this time means entering the very heart of a living and powerful popular devotion, where the sacred blends harmoniously with rural tradition in a timeless embrace.