What is the Ciciarata?

Ciciarata is an Italian name to express a meal of an abundance of chick peas, pasta, and sauce.  This is the main course served at every yearly festival.  The meal represents the charity of St. Francis to the local people of ambler, visitors and friends of the society.  The community is open to participate in the meal without any cost.  It is also a tradition that reminds people that Francis used the same meal to feed the poor of his time.  Much time and energy goes into the preparation and making of the meal.  

The Ciciarata is enjoyed as the pinnacle of the festival for St. Francis.  The meal takes place in the middle of the festival day.  

The day starts out with attending mass at St. Joseph's Church in Ambler.  

The Mass is in honor of St.Francis with its homily centered on Francis's message of love or "charitas".  After the mass, the community begins is procession throughout the town of Ambler.  The procession starts at the church and ends at the L.R.B. sons of Italy club on E.Butler pike in Ambler where the festival meal is celebrated.

The festival lasts until the evening hours where music, dancing and singing can be enjoyed.