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Traditions
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Feasts |
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Feasts represent one of
the most important parts of Sicilian social life, mixing pagan
myth, religious events and country fairs. The most celebrated
feasts are Easter, Carnival,
and the patron saints’ day.
Other events are:
- the Palio dei Normanni in Piazza
Armerina (Enna province),
which commemorates the arrival of Roger II;
- the Festival of Spiga in Gangi
that goes back to ancient pagan rituals dedicated to the
Goddess Cerere;
- the Festival del Mandorlo in
Agrigento and the Sagra della Ricotta in Vizzini.
The main cities celebrate their patron saint with spectacular
launches. Palermo
celebrates Saint Rosalie for six days in
September; Catania
celebrates Saint Agata. |
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Carts |
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The painted carts of Sicily
(carretti) have been around for nearlythan two centuries.
Once there were several thousands of them, carrying the products
of the island and participating in its celebrations. The carts
were fashioned from beautifully carved wood and intricately
wrought metal. All visible parts were colorfully painted with
religious, chivalric, historical, or other culturally symbolic
designs and figures. They carried passengers, foodstuffs, wine
barrels, minerals, and other cargo from place to place. Described
as ungainly and awkward, they were pulled over less than satisfactory
roads by horses, mules or donkeys decorated themselves in colorful
harnesses and feathers. |
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Sicilian Puppets |
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The Sicilian Puppets Theater
was defined "Masterpiece
of the Oral Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO.
Sicilian puppets portray epic sagas, but scene dialogues are
often improvised. Puppets (from the Latin pupus: little
child) are the characteristic armored marionettes of the epic
popular theater, brought probably from Spain of Don Quixote
to Sicily, where it reached its full development. Italy boasts
three main puppet schools, two of which are in Sicily: 1) Palermitan;
2) Catanese; and 3) Campanian. The puppets differ in their armor
and dimensions. For example, Palermitan puppets are smaller
and more mobile than the Catanese ones. |
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