"Panuzza" di San Nicola
Mezzojuso: Festa di San Nicola Di Mira
St. Nicholas is the patron saint of Mezzojuso in Sicily, where his festival is marked in a unique way. Every year volunteers, mostly women, come together several days before the 5th of December to prepare the "Panuzza" di San Nicola—a special kind of Artoclasia, St. Nicholas bread. The dough is prepared, kneaded, formed and stamped with an artos or prosphora seal showing the saint as well as the usual prosphora seal. The small loaves rise, are brushed with egg and baked.
The "Panuzza" are taken in procession to the Greek Catholic (Eastern Rite) Church of St. Nicholas on the evening of December 5, the eve of St. Nicholas Feast Day. Following Great Vespers the "Panuzza" are blessed. The blessed Panuzza are distributed either following the blessing or after the Holy Liturgy on December 6th.
It is said that throwing a "Panuzza" di San Nicola onto the roof of a house will appease a storm or blizzard.
 |  |
Preparing "Panuzza" di San Nicola 2012 - 14:05 minutes
Procession 2010 4:18 minutes
Blessing & Distributing "Panuzza" di San Nicola 2012 - 14:25 minutes
Preparation 2011 - 11:07 minutes
Blessing & Distribution 2011 - 17:12 minutes
Preparation 2010 - 5:06 minutes
Blessing 2010 - 6:21 minutes
YouTube videos by Nicolò Perniciaro.