Honoring the Saints

June 23rd was St. John the Baptist day. The Catholic church is very important here in Sicily. There are many festivals honoring the various saints in the Catholic church.

The Church of St. John the Baptist is just down the street from our apartment so I walked down to watch the procession.
There were a few banners, a statue of St. John the Baptist, a music section and then all the people walking. The procession walked through many streets in town before returning to the church.

Poster with the festival schedule


On my way to St. John the Baptist Church


There are always vendors selling toys and snacks to the kids....Do you see the cop on the motorcycle? Their nickname is the Lollipop Police because of the hand held sign shaped like a lollipop they carry in their boots. They will stand or park along roads and wave the "lollipop" to pull people over.


Waiting for the procession to start


Banners



Procession moving out from the church



Statue of St. John the Baptist


Music section


St. John the Baptist Church


Tail end of procession


People on their balconies watching the procession