The rites of the Immaculate opened the Christmas holidays: in the morning the traditional floral tribute to the marble Immaculate Conception behind Piazza Duomo and the mass in the church on Viale Boccetta. In the afternoon the ancient procession of the simulacrum through the surrounding streets.
The Christmas period began at 5pm today in Messina. As recent tradition dictates, it was the mayor Federico Basile who lit the first tree in the square, starting the long program of activities implemented this year in particular. Federico Basile, together with the council and the top management of the subsidiaries, officially launched the initiatives that are part of the program of events “Christmas in Messina 2023”, with the lighting of the tree set up in the atrium of Palazzo Zanca, which also saw the musical performance of the “Note Colorate” choir directed by maestro Giovanni Mundo. This is followed by the lighting of the tree in Piazza Unione Europea, decorated with traditional poinsettia plants and with plays of light and water.
From here, the representatives of the Basile administration continued along via Garibaldi, heading north, to light the third Christmas tree at the Vittorio Emanuele Theatre. The tour continued in via Cesare Battisti, at the intersection with via Tommaso Cannizzaro, where the tree positioned in front of the University was lit. Then it was the turn of Piazza Lo Sardo, here too for the lighting of the tree, to then retrace the Cesare Battisti (passing through Largo Seggiola) to reach Piazza Cairoli, where the traditional walk of the administrators for the lighting of the trees ends is concluding with the decorated fir tree in the heart of the city and where a gift and food village has been set up.
This year there are over 50 trees placed in the center and in the villages, with the support of Messinaservizi which also took care of the arrangements of the chosen squares.
Among the novelties of this year’s Christmas, the streets Cicerone, Laudamo and Malvagna, adorned with particular lights bearing phrases of artists and historical figures with which the city of the Strait is remembered.