U Catenacciu

Sartene – on April 2nd

It is the oldest and most engaging ritual in Corsica. It is the re-enactment of Jesus' ascent to Golgotha, during the night, with the roads enlightened only by torches and candles. The procession is led by the Chained (“red penitent” for the red robe he wears), who drags a heavy chain tied to the right ankle and carries a large wooden cross on his shoulders. Along the way the Chained is followed by the “white penitent”, representing Simone di Cirene, who helps him to get up on the occasion of the three symbolic falls; they are accompanied by a group of “black penitents”, carrying the statue of Christ on a coffin. The identity of the Chained is known only by the priest, and it is said that in the past it was a bandit who at the end of the procession, with the help of the religious, left the country in the same anonymity with which he arrived.

Feast of Sant’Erasmo

Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi – on June 2nd

Sant’Erasmo is the patron of fishermen and it is celebrated in many places: in Ajaccio, the statue of the saint is brought from the Chapel “Sant’Ignazio” to the port, where it takes place the procession at the sea. In the afternoon the statue returns to the church with a procession through the streets of the city. It is organized an appetizer, called by the fishermen “u canistro a finucchiettu”, with sweets of the local tradition. In Bastia and in Calvi is celebrate the Holy Mass followed by the procession through the streets of the city and at sea. At the end of the ceremony the priest blesses the boats and throws a wreath into the sea.

Feast of “Cristo Nero”

Bastia – on May 3rd

Bastia celebrates the “Cristo Nero dei Miracoli” a black oak wooden crucifix, considered the protector of fishermen; every year they go to Bastia to offer him their first catch. It was found at sea in 1428 suffused with a supernatural light. It was initially exposed in a cave, from where it disappeared and then was found again in the place where is nowadays. There is the procession through the district “Terra Nova”, until the “Porto Vecchio” of Bastia, where the traditional blessing of the sea takes place.

The manifestations can sometimes be subject to changes that do not depend on our will. Napoleon T.O. is not responsible for any cancellation or postponement of the dates of individual events.