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 Popular Festivals and Folklore
Almond Flowered Festival
Between the end of January and the beginning of February officiates the
Almond Flowered Festival
in Agrigento. 2009 is the year
of the 64th edition of the feast. It was born by an idea of
the Count Alfonso Gaetani who wanted to gift at Agrigento District the magical
atmospheare of "Paradise Valley" (in Naro town) at the beginning of spring, when
trees are filled up of white flowers, such us flying clouds. The feast was born
also to emphazise and improve the cultural and social heritage of the Temple
Valley and the local products. With the passing of the time it overcame regional
borders and became an International Festival of Brotherhood and Folklore.
Very important the manifestation in
the years during the war in Ex-Yuogoslavia, when bosniaci and sloveni
folkloristical groups paraded together. More information and programe of
this year on the official web
www.mandorloinfiore.net !!! *
*(info and text above from the official web:
www.mandorloinfiore.net
)
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Holy
Week and Easter in Sicily
Every year Easter is
between 22nd of March and 25th of April, precisely the Sunday after the spring
equinox full moon. In past centuries there were ,many religious celebrations
during the Holy Week, nowaday they survive just in some countries. Anciently in
Sicily yet the religious authority took part to the Holy Week, but today they
refrain from taking it part cause tehy remember some ancient pagan celebrations
of Spring. |
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Catania
Caltagirone:
Gli inchini della Pasqua (Easter Bows) -
It carries out at
Caltagirone (Catania district). The protagonists are three statues, representing Saint Peter, Virgin
Mary and Jesus Chryst. Peter gives Mary the Resurrection news bowing 3 times in
front of her, and other 3 times in front of Christ. After that Virgin trows
black veil and shrug 3 times her hands at the sky, thanking God for the miracle.
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Enna
Holy Week begins with the Procession
of the
Palm Sunday,
remembering the entrance of Jesus in Gerusalem.
From the Palm Sunday to the Good
Wednesday, the 15 confraternities, in fixed day and hour, go to the Cathedral,
for the
Adoration Hour
at the Eucharist. The culminating moment of the Easter's Celebration is the
Solemn Procession of the
Good Friday, in which more than 2.000 hooded brothers go with the Statue of
Dead Christ and Sorry Madonna to the Cemetery.
Easter Sunday, the
Resurrection
is celebrated with a ceremony called
"a Paci",
in which the statues of Resurrected Son and the Mother meet themselves. Then
they are exposed in the Cathedral for a week. Next Sunday, called
in Albis Sunday,
just 3 confraternities of SS. Salvatore, S. Giuseppe (Saint Joseph) and Spirito Santo
(Holy Spirit) make a procession to the Lombardy Castle, on the top of Cerere
Fortress, from which is given the solemn benediction at the fields. The last
ceremony, on the same day, is, the
"Spartenza".
the statues of Crist and Mother come back to their church, simbolizing the
eartly conclusion of Christ's mission.
The historical explanation, is that
just in this occasion people from high town (noble) and down town (poor) could
meet themselves without paying the duty at the arab market.
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Messina: Nebrodi Good Week
In centuries ago in Sicily there were
many religious celebrations during the Holy Week. With the advent of progress
are gone almost everywhere, but in some locations survive with a religious
unchanged in time.
A Cerca
-
It
lasts above all on Nebrodi contries (Longi, Alcara Li Fusi e S. Teodoro), gone
Saint Way Cross before, it resembles to an holy funeral. The rite symbolizes the
search of Virgin Mary for her died Son. When they meet, on Easter Sunday, Virgin
stops black veil, wear a blue and starts Easter Celebrations.
Festa dei Giudei,
it's a partical aspect of "Crocifisso dell'Ara Coeli"
procession. In an atmospheare of piety and funeral, suddenly burst Jews, dressed
in gaudy clothes, with a covered mask face, which disturb the religious
celebrations, for 3 long days making the "Gazzarra" (a big confusion) on Holy
Friday. Gazzarra ends on Saturday when Chryst backs in Church, his arrivals
scattered these devils.
Processione del
Crocifisso dell'Ara Coeli (Crucifix Ara Coeli Procession) - It takes place
at S. Marco d'Alunzio (ME - Nebrodi)
on last Friday of March. The
Crucifix is carried on the shoulders of 33 penitents hooded, called
"babbaluti", dressed in a blue tonic and a cap cone covers their faces, making their identity
unknown. Similar processions also exist in other countries of the Nebrodi and
are accompanied not only by Babbaluti, but also from Veronicas,
Maddalenas,
women dressed in black who followed the funeral procession, and
Nicodemis, young
richly dressed in silk clothes, jewels and hats on their heads, and from the
Angels, children dressed in white, who celebrate the glory of Christ.
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Ragusa:
*
Ispica
16.03.08 -
Palm Sunday - Procession
20.03.08 -
Good Thursday - Flogged Crist at the Column
21.03.08 - Good Friday - Via Crucis:
Deposition, with the Roman Cavalry (Santa Maria Maggiore Church, or SS Annunziata
Church)
23.03.08 - Easter
Sunday - Resurrected Son Race - Fireworks
*(Ispica Easter
Celebrations carry out from the finding in the IVth century a.C. in Saint
Mary of Cave Church of an ancient wood Crucifix . Just the face and the
hands avoided the destruction during the earthquake of 1693 and today are
part of the Flogged Christ at the Column)
Modica
23-03-2008
Easter Sunday - Madonna Vasa Vasa
- San Domenico Square - S. Pietro Church
Scicli
16.03.08 - Palm Sunday
-
Pity Saint Mary
21.03.08 -
Good Friday - Sorry Mary and Dead Crist Procession
23.03.08 - Easter Sunday Pasqua -
A Risuscita
(Saturday
night)
Morning -
SS. Sacramento Procession
h:11.00 -
U Gioia
(Santa Maria
La Nova Church) *
h:12.00 -
Omu Vivu
- Wood Statue
Procession
*(Young men take in procession Jesus' Statue. This is their
entrance in the adult's world. Music is very important. The rhythm and movements
have an high erotic characterization, strongly tied up with earth's religion. At
the end of the day fireworks at S. Matteo Hill)
Ragusa -
ancient town
16.03.08 - Palm Sunday -
Confraternities Procession.
Start at San Giorgio Duomo
17.03.08 -
Good Monday
- Saint Jack' devout take in procession the statue of Jesus
20.03.08 - Moundy
Thursday -
Sepulchres,
in every Church is prepared a depiction of Christ's Tomb, or of His Last Dinner.
21.03.08 - Good Friday -
Sorry Mother and Christ's Statues Procession..
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Trapani
The Holy
Week is celebrated everywhere to prepare Christians to Christ's Resurrection
through penance and fast. Above all at Trapani rites are celebrated because
people could live Easter with clear soul.
16.03.08 -
Palm Sunday - Buseto Palizzolo
- Passion Procession - historical centre -
Rievocation parade of Christ Passion and death.
18.03.08 -
Good Tuesday - Trapani - Sorry Mother Procession. Maria Addolorata
Picture starts the procession from Purgatory Church to Lucatelli Square. This
Mary is called "Madre di Pietà dei Massari" (Farmer's Pity Mother),
who organize the whole day.
19.03.08 -
Good Wednesday - Trapani - Sorry Mother Procession
called "Madre di Pietà per il Popolo" (People's Pity Mother) taken in procession
by greengrocers.
20.03.08 -
Moundy Thursday - Marsala - Procession
with the representation of Christ Passion
21.03.08 -
Good Friday:
-
Alcamo - Procession
of Dead Christ and Sorry Mother
-
Castelvetrano -
Procession of Holy Sepulchre
-
Marsala -
Procession
of Dead Christ and Sorry Mother
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Mazzara -
Procession
of Dead Christ
-
Erice - Mysteries Procession:4 wooden scenes
through the medioeval charming Erice streets. It's smallest than the twin
Trapani procession , but more suggestive for natural Erice set design.
-
Trapani -
Deposition
- Santa Maria del Gesù Church. It's a simple and
suggestive ceremony organized from Francescani Osservanti. Today the
Order risks to disappearand
so this cult.
-
Trapani - Mysteries
Procession
- In the main Trapani streets the whole afternoon characters recall Christ
Passion. People, urban street and pubblic became part of an unaware, natural set
design.
23.03.08 -
Easter - Castelvetrano - Dawn Celebration. The
rite carrys out in the morning recalling the visit of pious women at the
empty tomb of Christ. Mother meets the Son and it's a celebrationf of life
and joy. It looks like Caltagirone bows,
but Clergy is against this celebration cause it recalls pagan rites in
honour of the Spring. .
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Sant'Agata
Honour and merit for Agata, Protector Saint
of Catania town. The feast lasts 4 days, since 2nd -
5th of February, even if unofficially it begins at the end of
January. On IInd February, "Il giorno della Candelora" (Candelora torch-like's
day), different sicilian corporations like: greengrocers, butchers, florists,
... and so on, offer at the Saint their votive torch. 3rd January is the day of
"la Carrozza del Senato" , in which the mayor exit in the autority carriage used in XIXth
century from nobles for
taking part at the feast. On 4th February, the Eve of Agata death anniversary,
her bust, containing her human remains, is taking round the historical centre,
carrying the external ring out (il giro esterno, alias the trip of the ancient
historical centre of Catania). On Vth of February the Saint exits in the
afternoon and backs just the next morning. In this feast the sacred and the
profane verge. On 3rd February in Duomo Square, after the traditional chorus,
there are wordless fireworks. On 5th night many people wait for fireworks in
Borgo Square (a curiosity: if you ask a catanase for Piazza (Square) Cavour,
maybe he won't ask you, cause for local people it's Piazza Borgo, that's
to say the end of the ancient town). In the same night, after the fireworks, you
can see "Sangiuliano Hill", made by the devouts running, and San Benedetto
Church chorus, of the nuns belongings to an enclosed order, deeped in a sacred
atmospheare...
"...
Renaissance
fercolo,
silver covered, with Saint Agata relic bust in pure glaze, was dragged from the
faithfuls, dressed in white night dress with zucchetto (black night hat). A
cry:"Citatini, evviva Sant'Aita!", and a rip. It was like a rip, because the
fercolo hadn't wheel, but halfmoon that grazed on the paving. The intensity of
the faith was proved in the steep hill of San Giuliano Street. This cart was
preceded from the "candelore" like big candles, carved in most sumptuous
sicilian baroque. Every candles represented a gift at the Saint from the bakers,
the butchers, the fishmonger, the greengrocers, etc..."
(by
Emilio
Greco - "Lo Jonio corrusco di vento" - Apsa 8 -
Roma 1980 - Translation: M. Virgillito)
Muzzuni
That's one of the
most ancient pagan celebration in Europe. It lasts in Alcara every year on 24th June,
Saint John's Day, in coincidence with Summer Solstice, to propitious fertility's
rites. Nowaday religious and pagan feast verge together in a spectcular event:
in the morning there are the religious celebrations, in the afternoon starts the
pagan feast. Women don't married prepare the "Muzzuni",: a neck hub bottle (remembering
Baptiste), wrapped in a silk foulard, with wheat ear germinate in the dark, with
smell twigs and flowers. The girl, which replace ancient priestless,
decorate the altars with the «pizzare», handmade blankets, jewels and
gold. The stems of wheat the rich decoration remember magical offers to Demetra,
the goddess of the earth, asking and thanking for the fertility of the land and
of the women. Around the Muzzuni a large crowd of people dance and sing "chanson"
exchanging love and frindship promises.
Festa di Santa Rosalia
Santa Rosalia's
Palermo Patron Saint.
Her feast lasts three days, and the whole town takes it part. Santa
Rosalia has lived like an heremit on San Pellegrino mountain (whose name is
dedicated to her). She has saved the town several times from angers and
from the plague in 1624. The Saint Feast is so important that in the marriage
contract was expressly specified that the husband was forced to leave his wife
attend it.
Palio dei Normanni (Norman Medioeval Feast)
It takes place at
Piazza Armerina (in Enna district) on 13th and 14th August. The whole popolation
take it part. In the Festival verges religious and historical theme. The
celebrations for Victoris Virgin Mary mingles with historical parades,
remembering the arrive of Norman William, in Piazza Armerina, in XIth Century.
On 14th August in the stadium carries the Palio out. The town is splitted in 4
teams. The winner team conquers the banner of Victories Virgin Mary. The
atmospheare is really exciting and you will be involved in the competiotions.
Have a nice day !!! Take the past machine .... !!!!
Eve Christmas fire
Many Sicilian legends
are joined to fire, cause the difficulty to live together Etna Vulcan. Anciently
in december during Saturnals, Romans handed to the god lighted torches or
candles. Nowaday this use continues in mountain countries, lightining on Eve
Christmas night, bonfires to warm Child Jesus in front of the Church in the main
square. A curiosity: in Syracuse district bonfires are lightning instead
at the midnight of New Years' Day and have an esoteric and magical meaning.
Eurochocolate - Modica
Eurochocolate takes
part in Modica evry year about 3r March weekend. It's possible assist at the
manifacture and preparation of Modica Chocolate. It's made according an ancient
Aztec recipe, imported by Spaniels in XVII century.
The past is handmade mixing sugar, cocoa and flavourings (vanilla, hot pepper,
orange, ...) Antically the chocolate was maden on lava rock tables, half moon
shaped, heated coals underneath. The chocolate, so manifactured, is absolutely
natural, without fat. From the book "Chocolate" by Joanne Harris, and from the
same film, with Jonny Deep: "For Maya chocolate has magical properties. A cup
of hot chocolate with a bit of hot pepper, release the soul, and has the power
to show desidere and hidden dreams,..." ... Taste it !!!
Infiorata XXIX Edition (Noto)
XXIX edition of Noto
Infiorata starts on the IIIrd Sunday of May. Saturaday Down is prepared Via
Nicolaci and the Next Sunday flowers painting will be exposed at people
admiration. On Saturday it will be visitable also Chiesa del Carmine Church, San
Domenico's Cloister and San Francesco's Cloister. Sunday it will bealso the
Flag-Waver exbitions in the main street. in the Vecchia Matrice District ... It's
a feast for eyes and hearts ... Enjoy yourself ! ! !
Madonna Vasa Vasa (Kissing Virgin Mary)
Every year on Easter
Day in Modica town,in front of San Pietro Duomo, the most important modican
feast takes place. At Easter noon Mary's statue runs Chryst's statue into in
Saint Domenico Square. Virgin trows the dark cloak and put an azure on.
Mary's statue bows to chryst kissing him. People hug and kiss each other,
forgetting old struggles. At the end the doves flight give wishes for the year
in progress.
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Traditional Sicily Festival
(tasting tipycal local products)
" ... If you like traditional Sicilian Festival can't be missing the
following appointments, deeped in charmed and forgotten farming and rural
atmospheare. I suggest you to call tourist office, or local district before
to go ...
Have Fun
!!! "
Maria V
**
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February Traditional Festivals
Agrigento
Agrigento - Almond in
Flower and International Folklore Festival - 2/11 febbraio (variable date) - Temples
Valley
-
Naro - Almond in Flower Festival - 1st february week - Parade in V.le
Umberto, V. V.Emanuele, P.zza Garibadi. Tasting desserts in P.zza Roma
Catania
Acireale - Parade
Carnival Carts - Carnival - Last Thursday and Tuesday before Lent
Catania - Saint Agata - 3/5
febbraio - Historical Centre
Ragalna - Olives Oil
Festival - Variable date between January and February - Largo Andrea Viscuso
Messina
Letojanni - Macaroni
Festival - Variable date at Carnival - P.zza Durante, Allegorical Parade,
macaroni and red wine
Novara di Sicilia -
Maiorchino Festival- Last Tuesday before Lent - P.zza Michele Bertolami (maiorchino
is a competition with a 10 kg pecorino cheese).
Ragusa
Chiaramonte Gulfi - Sausage Festival - 1st Carnival Monday - P.zza Duomo
fancy dress & streamers rain
Siracusa
Palazzolo Acreide -
Sausage Festival - Carnival - P.zza del Popolo
- Cavati Festival (egg pasta) - Carnival - P.zza Umberto
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March Traditional Festivals
Catania
Ragalna - Easter Week - Ciciulio,
shortcrust pastry with eggs - Centro Diurno degli Anziani
Messina
Acquaficara (Barcellona
hamlet) - Sfinge Festival (salted and sweetness fritters) - 19th march -
Main Square
Borgetto - Tavolata dei
Virgineddi ( table set with local favourite dishes )- 17th - 19th march
Campofelice di Fitalia
- Saint Joseph Feast: Table set with local favourite dishes - C.so Vitt.
Emanuele
Palermo
Altovilla Milicia -
Sfingia Festival (salted and sweetness fritter) - 19 marzo - Via Loreto, San Giuseppe
neighbourhood
Bolognetta - Olive
Oil and tipycal products Festival - variable date between March and April - P.zza Caduti in Guerra
Giuliana - Saint
Joseph Altar - San Giuseppe Feast with dessert (sfinci) e salted dishes (Garufo,
a local asparagus)
- Fish Festival - 1st Friday after Easter - pasta with anchovies and
fireworks - P.zza della Repubblica
Prizzi - Devils
Dance - C.so Umberto I, Via Matteotti - tasting typical local foods
Santa Cristina Gela -
Typical Local Foods Festival - variable date - P.zza Mariano Polizzi
Terrasini - Trees
Festival - Easter Eve
Ragusa
Donnalucata - Sepia Festival and
Saint Joseph Ride - Miramare Seafront
Monterosso Almo -
Cavati Festival (egg pasta festival) - IInd weekend after Easter - P.zza Sant'Antonio
Scicli -
Cavalcata di
San Giuseppe - Previous or next Saturday on 19th March. This year on
29th of March because of Easter.
Trapani
Marsala - Spring Festival (fish to barbecue, local cheese and desserts DOC Marsala
wine - variable date -
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April Traditional Festivals
Agrigento
Aragona - Sagra du Taganu (baked macaroni) -
variable date - P.zza Umberto I (you can try to visit Aragonese Castle, asking
the noons, ... It's incredibly charming !!!)
Ribera - Local
Products Festival - 28th April/1st May - Villa Comunale (Brazilian oranges,
sweetness seedness)
Caltanissetta
Niscemi - Artichoke
Festival - 7/9 April - Variable place, call before go - agriculture
convention
Catania
Aci Bonaccorsi -
Ricotta and Sicilian Cheese Festival - Last Aril Sunday P.zza della Regione h:9.00
a.m
Acireale - Spring
Festival - 1st week between April and May
Castel di Judica -
Sicilian Pecorino (cheese) Festival - 25th April - P.zza Principale di
Franchetto (Castel di Judica Hamlet)
Nicolosi - April
Festvial - metà di aprile - P.zza V. Emanuele (Etna mushrooms and ricotta
desserts)
Palagonia - Orange Festival - Ist
April week - P.zza Garibaldi
Ramacca - Artichoke
Festival - Ist or IInd April week - Via Risorgimento
Vizzini - Ricotta
Festival - 25th April - P.zza Marconi
Palermo
Cerda -
Artichoke Festival
- 25th April - P.zza
Vito La Mantia
(grilled
artichokes, pasta and meatball with artichokes). A treat ... !!!
Isnello - Fritter
Festival (salted fritter, fritter with peas, artichokes and fennels) -
30th April - in front of Santa Maria Maggiore Church, in the stairs in castel
direction
Scillato - Orange
Festival - variable date - P.zza A. Moro
Ragusa
Modica -
Eurochocolate or
Baroque chocolate Feast (between April and May)-
Low Modica Historical Centre
Monterosso Almo -
Cavati Festival (egg pasta festival) - on 5th and 6th April 2008 - P.zza Sant'Antonio
Sampieri - Pomodoro
Festival - 1st May previous week - bruschetta (toasted bread rubbed with
gralic and drizzled with olive oil, spaghetti, pizze and focacce) in Viale Miramare
Vittoria - Fiera Emaia
Primavera - variable place and date
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May Traditional Festivals
Agrigento
Cammarata - Cheese
Festival - variable place and date
Casteltermini -
Tataratà Festival - IVth May Sunday - P.zza Duomo, historical centre. It
recalls the discover of a Cross tasting the cubaita
(pistacchi and almonds nougat).
Caltanissetta
San Cataldo - Bread
Festival- 9/10th May - P.zza Papa Giovanni XXIII (after bringing in the
harvest)
Catania
Calatabiano - Nespolo
Festival - 1st May Sunday - P.zza Mercato
Motta Sant'Anastasia -
Orange Festival - variable date - Rione Giovani Maestri Via V. Emanuele
Palagonia - 1st week
of May, cakes, desserts and orange liqueur in P.zza Garibaldi
Enna
Carcaci (an hamlet of Centuripe
country) - Ricotta Festival - variable date - you can taste ricotta,
cagliata, tuma and local cheese in the little square in front of the XVIIIth
century Castle
Nissoria - Wine
Competition - 22nd May - in P.zza Duomo (Prizewinner
the best wine and free tasting)
Troina - Vastedda cu Sammucu
Festival
- (vastedda is a local word for bread with drizzled olive oil, tuma and sambuco
flowers) - variable date - gallery in front of ex Sant'Agostino Monastery
Valguarnera Caropepe -
San Joseph Desserts : pasta cu meli (pasta and honey), cassateddi, pagnuccata e sfingi
(bread and salted and sweetness fritters)
- local house 19th March
Messina
Castel di Lucio - Tabisca
and Ricotta Festival -
last May Saturday - P.zza
della Pace. Tabisca is a focaccia (flat salty bread made with olive oil) stuffed
with ricotta, or caciocavallo (cheese) and salted anchovies
Graniti - Cherry
Festival - variable date and place (between 8th and 16th May or in June -
Call before go !!!)
Gualtieri Sicaminò -
Orange Festival - variable date - P.zza San Cataldo
Raccuia - Pane Cunzatu
Festival - 1st May (Pane Cunzatu is salted bread with drizzled olive oil)
Roccella Valdemone -
Ricotta Festival - IInd May Sunday - P.zza Duomo
Palermo
Trabia -
Nespole Festival
- IInf May weekend - C.so La Masa, P.zza Lanza
Ventimiglia di Sicilia
- Sausage Festival - last 10 April Days or 1st ten May days - public
theatre
Ragusa
Modica - Ricotta Festival - last May Sunday - C.da
Cannizzara (10km from the built-up area)
Scicli -
Madonna delle Milizie - Last May
Saturday - It recalls the battle between Christians and Arabs.
The miraculous appearance of the Riding Madonna who fought against the enemies.
At the end there is the wonderful "Cantu ri l'angilu" a
struggling song without music that recalls islamic traditional music.
Siracusa
Lentini - Orange in Flower Festival - April End, 1st May week - Villa Gorgia,
school festival of Lentini, Carlentini and Francofonte
Noto -
Infiorata XXIX edizione
- IIIrd May Sunday - Via Nicolaci
Solarino - Ricotta
Festival - 1st May - P.zza Plebiscito (Tasting begins at 8.30 a.m. with the ricotta
just made)
Trapani
Erice - Ginestra Festival - variable date between April end and May - Ex San Giovanni
Church
Favignana - Tonno
Festival - 20 Maggio/15 giugno - after the Mattanza (tuna Killing) in front
of the Camperia
(fishing equipment deposit). From 6 p.m. grilled tuna for those present
Marsala -
Garibaldine Celebrations - recalling of the 11th May 1860 (Thousand Landing)
Poggioreale -
Ricotta Festival (pecorino and local products) - IInd May Saturday - P.zza Elimo
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June
Traditional Festivals
Agrigento
Sciacca - Sea Festival - 29th June - Martina di Sciacca Harbour -
Prawns, sepias and sardines offered those present and sea procession
Caltanissetta
Santa Caterina
Villarmosa - Cudduroni Festival (salted bead fritter) - 6/7th June -
C.da Turolifi, P.zza Garibaldi
Catania
Macchia di Giarre -
Cherries and Roses Festival - half June - P.zza San Vito
Maletto - Strawberry
Festival - first half of June - P.zza XXIV maggio
Ragalna -
Cherries Festival - end June - P.zza Rocca (fruits and desserts offer at the
visitors)
Messina
Alcara Li Fusi -
Muzzuni
and San Giovanni Feast - 24 giugno
Castel di Lucio - Fave Squadate
(boiled breef broad)
Festival -
29th june - entrance
square
Graniti - Strawberry
Festival - variable date and place
Naso - Festa della
Luminaria (Lights Festival) - C.da Grazia - In a big bonfire burn the old ears
to have a favourable harvest
Pollara (Malfa Hamlet
- Salina) - Cappero Festival - 1st June Saturday - P.zza Sant'Onofrio
Vulcano (Eolie) - Ginestra
Festival - Marathon through the island, tasting along journey
Palermo
Altavilla Milicia -
Lemon Icecream Festival
- 29th June - Via Loreto
Altofonte - Desserts
and Cakes Festival - variable date - P.zza Falcone Borsellino
Caltavuturo - Grain
Festival - 17th June - Via Riscossa, Grain Cicle representation and bread
tasting at the visitors
Chiusa Sclafani -
strawberries Festival - June end - P.zza Santa Rosalia
Isnello - Broad
Festival - 29th June - historcial centre
San Mauro Castelverde -
Sagra du Cascavaddru (Local cheese) - 1st June Sunday - Via Umberto,
Trappeto - Sun Festival -
May end/ beginning of June - P.zza Umberto
Villafrati - Typical
Products Festival - IInd June Sunday - P.zza Fratelli Rosselli
Trapani
Favignana - Tonno
Festival - 20 Maggio/15 giugno - after the Mattanza (tuna Killing) in front
of the Camperia
(fishing equipment deposit). From 6 p.m. grilled tuna for those present
Valderice - Cous-Cous
Festival - variable date - Anna Maria Hamlet, Borgo Sant'Andrea
di Bonagia 20 mt far from the sea
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October Traditional Festivals
Agrigento
Canicattì -
Grapes Festival (Sagra dell' Uva) - september end/beginnig october
- Historical Centre: Largo Aosta - Dante Square
Montevago - Wine
Festival and typical local productions (cheese, marmelade, jam, olives,
local productino oil) - october end - Repubblica Square (Piazza della
Repubblica)
Raffadali -
Macco (Pulse pureè) Festival- October First Sunday
Santa Margherita
Belice - Ficodindia Festival- October end/ Beginning November
Santo Stefano
Quisquina - Apple Festival - Defining - Villa Comunale
Caltanissetta
Montedoro -
Sausage Festival - October First Monday - Umberto Square (Piazza
Umberto)
Catania
Biancavilla -
Extravirgin olive oil Festival -
October end/
Beginning November
Bronte -
Pistacchio
Festival-
September end/
Beginning October -
(historical centre, Annunziata and Corso Umberto)
Castel di Judica -
Sweet fruit pickles (Mostarda) Festival - half october - Via Roma,
Piazza Marconi
Militello -
Sweet fruit
pickles and Ficodindia Festival
- IIIrd october week - in the hall of Barresi-Branciforti Castle
Pedara -
Mushroom
Festival - last october weekend
- Don
Bosco Square
San Cono -
Ficodindia Festival - September end/Beginning October - A. Gramsci
Square
San Giovanni La
Punta - "Sicilia D.O.C.", Bread and Cakes Festival - defining between
October and November
Trecastagni -
Cestnut Festival - Last but one and last October weekend - A. Moro
Square
Zafferana -
Ottobrata
- every october saturday and sunday
- Historical Centre
Enna
Catenanuova - San
Prospero Park Festival : natural cottage cheese (ricotta fresca), embers
sausage, natural bread and local red wine
Leonforte -
Peach and Typical local prodaction Festival - First October Sunday -
Branciforte Square, Margherita Square, Corso Umberto
Nicosia - Livestock
and Cattle Exhibition - 1st and 3rd Wednesday every month
Messina
Antillo -
Cestnut Festival - End
October /
Beginning November
- Municipio Square
Caronia -
Black Nebrodi
Pig (Suino Nero) and Mushrooms Porcini
Festival - Canale Square
Lami (Lipari hamlet)
- Sausage Festival - october 1st saturday - in front of Madonna del
Rosario Church
Leni (Salina Island)
- Enogastronomia Festival - First October week
Montagnareale -
Cestnut Festival - october last sunday - Vittoria Square (taste minerl
water too, Montagnareale is famous for its springs of pure and mineral
water)
Tusa - Cestnut
Festival - October Last Sunday - Mazzini Square
Ucria - Mushroom
Festival - october last week - sunday mushrooms tasting - Padre
Bernardino Square
Palermo
Petralia Sottana - Cestnut
Festival - defining date - Corso Paolo Aliata, allegorical carts parade
Santa Flavia - Fish Festival -
October First Sunday - spiazzo Trizzanò
Valledolmo - Grapes Festival -
October First Sunday - Piazza Matrice
Raguse
Modica - Carrubo Festival -
October First Sunday - Frigintini main square (Modica hamlet)
Ragusa -
Buskers Festival - october IInd
weekend
- Ragusa Ibla
Syracuse
Lentini - Typical local
production Festival - defining date - located in Castellaccio San Paolo
Palazzolo Acreide -
Cinghiale Festival - End october/beginning
november - Piazza del
Popolo
Pedagaggi (fraz. di Carlentini) -
Sweet
fruit pickles Festival
- dfining date between october and november - Piazza Trento e Trieste
Rosolini - Grapes juice
(Mosto) Festival Sagra - 8 october - Garibaldi Square
Sortino - Honey Festival -
September end/October 1st Sunday - Verga Square, Corso Umberto
Trapani
Partanna - Valle del Belice
Livestock
and Cattle Exhibition-
every month IInd sunday - Bevaio Nuovo
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November Traditional Festivals
Agrigento
Alessandria della Rocca - Oil
Festival - uncertain date - Via Roma
Cattolica Eraclea -
S. Martino Festival: sfinci (fritted honey sweet), cheese and wine -
novembee 12th/13th - P.zza Umberto
Lucca Sicula - Oil
Festival - uncertain date - P.zza V. Emanuele
Ravanusa - Bacco Rock -
on 11th November - C.so della Repubblica
Catania
Castiglione di Sicilia -
Wine Festival -
uncertain date - Wine
street in Bike
Gravina - Bread Festival (pane
condito)
- Ist November week - P.zza Libertà
Linguaglossa - San
Martino Festival - on November 11th - P.zza Giardino
Mineo - Olive
Oil Festival -
second half of the month - P.zza
Buglio and V.le Rimembranze
Nicolosi - San Martino
Festival -
uncertain date - Villa Comunale, P.zza V. Emanuele
Pedara - Apple Festival -
last weekend of the month - P.zza Don Bosco
Sant'Alfio - Wine Festival -
first half of the month - Local restaurants
Enna
Piazza Armerina - S. Martino
Festival - November 11th
Messina
Brolo - Sausage and Wine Festival -
November 11th - Piazza Principale (in the main square)
Pianoconte (Lipari Island hamlet) -
Bread and Wine Festival - Second half of the month - P.zza
Chiesa di S. Croce
Roccafiorita - Chestnut Festival
- uncertain date - P.zza Autonomia
San Piero Patti - Wine Festival -
November 11th - P.zza Duomo
Palermo
Altofonte - Oil Festival -
End of the month/beginning December - P.zza Falcone Borsellino
Capaci - Vastedda Festival
(circular bread) - Novembee IInd - P.zza Municipio
Chiusa Sclafani - Oil Festival
- second Sunday of the month - ex Badia Convent
Misilmeri - Tipycal Local Products
Festival (Loti, Mandarini, ...) - uncertain date - P.zza
Comitato
Pollina - Olive Tree Festival -
last Sunday of the month - P.zza del Popolo
Trappeto - Oil Festival -
beginning of the month - Via XXIV Giugno, P.zza Municipio
Ragusa
Ragusa - Fritter Festival -
November 9th/12th - P.zza S. Giovanni, and little narrow streets nearby
Siracusa
Buccheri - Olives and oil Festival - time
between November and December - P.zza Roma, C.so Umberto, C.so V. Emanuele
Palazzolo Acreide - Mushrooms
Festival
- uncertain date* - P.zza S. Sebastiano
*when
you try uncertain date, call before going, to know exactly the days of the event
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December &
Christmas Festivals
Agrigento
Caltabellotta -
Tipycal Local products Festival - December 26th/January 6th - Free Tasting
in Via S.
Francesco December 26th and 30th, on January 6th h:18-22.00
Ioppolo Giancaxio -
Ricotta Festival - January 6th - Via Roma
San Giovanni Gemini -
Ricotta Festival - December 23rd - Via F. Crispi - (January
6th: Sangiovannese Cake Festival - Chiesa di S. Giovanni)
Sant'Angelo Muxaro - Ricotta
Festival - January 6th - P.zza Umberto I
Santa Elisabetta - Ricotta
Festival - January 5th- P.zza S. Carlo
Caltanissetta
Campofranco - Cotacalla Festival (hot
flat, or raisin, bread tossed with salt and oil, or sugar) - December 7th -
P.zza S. Rita
Campofranco - Cuccìa Festival
( wheats cooked on coal or boiled) - December 13th - P.zza F.
Crispi
Marianopoli - Ricotta Festival
- uncertain date - P.zza Garibaldi
Marianopoli - Chick-pea Festival
- beginning of January - in Garibaldi Square there is also a Living Crib
Resuttano - Cuccìa Festival
- December 13th - P.zza Roosevelt (after afternoon Mass)
Resuttano - Ricotta Festival
- in Christmas time - above stairs of Matrice chur and Roosevelt Square
Sutera - 13th December Cuccìa tasting
in front of Sant'Agata Church
Catania
Calatino (Caltagirone, Mineo ...) -
Crib Exposition - in local Caltagirone pottery - Every Saturday and Saunday in
Christmas time
Fiumefreddo - Christmas Tree
Festival - a sweet cake 10mt long and 4mt large - P.zza Chiesa Madre
Licodia Eubea - Patacò
Festival
(like chick-pea with broccoli and sausage) - uncertain date - P.zza Garibaldi
Maniace - Black Nebrodi Pig
Festival
- uncertain date - P.zza dell'Autonomia
Piedimonte Etneo - Ricotta
Festival - Christmas Time - P.zza Chiesa Madre
Ragalna - Caliceddi (vegetables)
and Sausage Festival, with red wine - December 2nd/3rd - Largo Viscuso
Ragalna - Olive Oil Festival
- uncertain date between January and February - Largo Viscuso
Ramacca - Biscuit Festival (Mustazzola
full of dried figs and Milk, Almond Biscuits) - Christmas Time - P.zza Umberto
San Michele di Ganzaria - Cuccìa*
Festival - December 13th - Via Roma and P.zza Garibaldi
Santa Maria di Licodia - Orange
and Olive Oil Festival - beginning of December - P.zza Umberto
Scordia - Biological Products
Festival - December 7th/9th - P.zza Umberto
the cuccia festival
* The legend tells that
many centuries ago, on December 13th, Santa Lucia Day, the Saint saved people
from the famine, with a charge of wheat shipwrecked on the coast. Thanking Lucia
every year people prepare the Cuccìa (boiled salad, or sweet wheat) giving it to
visitors.
Enna
Gagliano Castelferrato - Tipycal
Local Products Festival (beef, ricotta, bread, ...) - uncertain date - P.zza N. Grippaldi
Nicosia - Pizziddatu
Festival (Fig tart, almond, mosto, hot wine, cinnamon and aromatic flavour, ...) -
Last day of the year -
P.zza Garibaldi
Piazza Armerina - Cuccia Festival
- December 13th - P.le Chiesa S. Lucia
Pietraperzia - Cuccia Festival -
December 12th - Quartiere Terruccia
Villarosa - Buccellato Festival
(Circular Biscuits full of almond and dried figs) - December 29th/30th -
P.zza V. Emanuele
Messina
Bolognetta - Living Crib, Juanuary 6th
in V. V. Veneto
Castelmola - Christams time
Galati Mamertino - Districts
Festival - Christams Time:
Sausage Festival - S. Giacomo Square
Competion fo Sweet cake - Quartiere Pilieri
Hazelnut cake Festival - Quartiere Chiazza
Salt Fritter - Quartiere Serro - Crispi Square
Lingua (Salina Island hamlet) -
Cake Festival - last December week
Longi - Nebrodi Black Pork -
last December days - Main Square
Mongiuffi Melia - Sausage Festival -
New Year's Day - P.zza del Carmine
San Basilio (Galati
Mamertino hamlet) - Ricotta and Flat Bread Festival - Christmas Time -
Main square
San Fratello - Mushrooms Festival
- Beginning of December - P.zza Monumento
Palermo
Alia - Buccellato (Fig and Almond
Cake) and Scattata (toasted almond and cinnamon sweet) Festival -
Christmas Time - P.zza Garibaldi
Alia - Ricotta Festival -
December 24th - P.zza Garibaldi
Capaci - Buccellato Festival
- week before Christmas - P.zza Municipio
Castellana Sicula - Buccellato
Festival - IInd half of december - P.zza S. Francesco di Paola
Castronovo di Sicilia - Oil
Festival - uncertain date in December - Inner City
Graniti - Bread Festival (hot bread
flavoured with oil and salt) - Christmas Time periodo natalizio -
Marineo - Oil Festival -
uncertain date in December - P.zza Castello di Marineo
Santa Cristina Gela - Cannolo
Festival - half of December - P.zza Mariano Polizzi
Torretta - Vastedda Festival
(bread flavoured with oil and salt)- December 8th - Via Roma
Ventimiglia di Sicilia - Oil
Festival - first 10 days of December - anfiteatro comunale
Siracusa
Siracusa - Santa Lucia Feast -
December 13th and 29th
Trapani
Custonaci - Living Crib - December 24th/26th,
Christmas Saturday and Sunday and on January 6th - Mangiapane Cave -
UNFORGETTABLE
Paceco - Cuccia Festival -
December 12th/13th
dicembre - P.zza V. Emanuele
** In last years many
popular feasts, for different reasons, have disappeared and new ones have been
created. That's the reason why this list is no complete as it would be and cause
it's better calling before going in every chosen place. So said have fun
discovering forgotten flavours and Sicilian atnospheares. See you ... !!!
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tradizioni sicilia, feste, sicilia, sagre sicilia, folklore sicilia,
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