11 timeless Sicilian customs and traditions you should know about (not just food)
When one thinks of Sicily, one thinks of all the traditions, customs, sayings and symbols that have made it so famous and well-known throughout the world.
Yes, Sicily is a land full of folklore and local traditions that never go out of fashion, in fact they become, more and more, a fashion through products spread abroad and marketing activities that were once unthinkable.
Always influenced by very different cultures and inhabited by peoples from East and West, who have enriched it with authentic cultural elements and symbols, the crossroads of the Mediterranean, this island presents itself as an extraordinarily unique place. And woe betide anyone who touches its enchanting traditions!
It possesses a long history, traversed by Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman, Spanish and, you name it, it has it. For this reason, Sicilian culture represents a heritage of inestimable value. But what are these traditions? What is it that has made it famous and so interesting in the eyes of the world? Certainly, it was not only cannoli!
The impossible love of Moor’s heads
Back in vogue after centuries, sold in any Sicilian artisan store and workshop, Moor’s head vases can even be found on Amazon this year. Beautiful, unique, colorful, decorated and handcrafted by local artisans, Moor’s heads are undoubtedly one of the most famous Sicilian symbols. But what is their history?
We are talking about one of the examples of the excellence of Sicilian ceramics, among which the most famous one stands out: the ceramics of Caltagirone, a small and pretty village in the province of Catania.
The legend of the Moor’s Heads is as extraordinary as the beauty of the artifacts. There are several stories and legends revolving around the “Teste di moro” (Moor’s heads), but the most famous is one.
The legend tells of an Arab soldier serving in Palermo, who in the year 1000 saw a beautiful Sicilian girl on one of the balconies of the Kalsa district and fell madly in love with her.
The girl decided to reciprocate his love and soon a passionate romance was born between the two. The relationship, however, hid a secret. In fact, the young soldier did not tell the woman that he already had a family in his homeland.
When he decided to leave one day, he confessed the sad truth to her, but the girl devised a plan to keep the young man by her side forever. A macabre plan, indeed. During their last night together, in fact, the woman decapitated him, exposed his head in the balcony along with other pots and planted basil in it, which in a short time grew very lush. The neighbors fell in love with this particular vase and asked local artisans to make more pottery ones.
Here is a tradition that, even today, fascinates and enchants. Each Moor’s head represents a unique hand-decorated item, but be careful who you give it to. It is certainly not the best wish for a love destined to last forever.
Sicilian Theater and the “Pupi” Opera (Puppet Opera)
And if we talk about Sicilian traditions, we cannot fail to mention the Opera dei Pupi (Puppet Opera), the most famous traditional puppet theater, in 2001 proclaimed by UNESCO as an Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity for its great historical and cultural value.
The Opera dei Pupi, a true puppet theater based on tales from epic-chivalric literature of medieval origin, Renaissance chivalric poems, biographies and imaginative narratives by pupari (puppeteers), is still one of the most significant expressions of Sicily’s historical memory and cultural identity.
The origin of this popular theater probably dates back to the early 1800s, and performances of chivalry were often staged, such as those of the Carolingian cycle with Charlemagne and Gerusalemme Liberata, but also plays by William Shakespeare such as Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth. Published since 1858 in handouts, the work written in prose brings together and reworks the poems of learned literature, including Orlando in Love and Orlando Furioso.
It must be said that the Sicilian Puppet Opera Theater has two different variants. The “Palermo” school, in western Sicily, and the “Catania” school, in eastern Sicily, with differences in the characteristics of the puppets and the theater more than in the works staged.
The tradition of the Carretto siciliano (Sicilian Cart)
Staying with the theme of craftsmanship, technique and passion for art, we must mention another of the symbols of Sicilian tradition: the Sicilian cart!
An undisputed symbol of Sicilian folklore and Sicily’s vibrant colors, the cart offers a very important cultural and historical insight. At one time, in fact, it was the main means used to transport heavy goods. So many craft stores relied on this system to carry goods from one point to another.
The Sicilian cart was therefore very important for economic activities, but let’s talk about aesthetics. Depending on the area and the province, the Sicilian cart changes in appearance but the characteristics remain almost the same.
The colors are almost always very bright and one is amazed at the attention to detail and carvings made and painted by hand. A true art and tradition that has been handed down for centuries thanks to Master painters, carvers and carpenters who reveal tricks of the trade and ancient techniques from generation to generation.
The ciaramedda of the novenas
Is there such a thing as a Sicilian bagpipe? Yes, it is called “ciaramedda“!
The ciaramedda experienced a period of crisis, and fell into disuse becoming less and less widespread, but today this extraordinary musical instrument is making a comeback in many places on the Sicilian island.
In particular, during the Christmas season, so-called “novenas” are staged in Sicily, songs that intone and bring to life the events of the nativity. The so-called “ciaramiddari” or bagpipers intone them, telling extraordinary stories.
And these novenas are marked by this very musical instrument, the ciaramedda, which was once used and is still used today in Sicilian folk music.
The name originates from the Latin word calamus and the Greek word kàlamos, from which came the term “calamilla” and then, in Sicilian dialect, “ciaramedda“.
The Marranzano
And if we are talking about musical instruments, then we absolutely must mention one of the oldest instruments in the world: the Marranzano! It is so old that it was already known to the Romans, and it was they who may have exported it to France and Great Britain.
The Marranzano (in Sicilian dialect “marranzanu“), and also known as Scacciapensieri, is an idiophone musical instrument of Sicilian folk tradition. Being idiophone, the sound is not produced by strings or taut membranes, but by the vibration of the body itself.
The metal structure folded in on itself creates a horseshoe shape, and in a free space there is a thin metal blade that, on one side, is attached to the structure of the instrument, while on the other side it is free.
The marranzano, known as “mariuolu” in Palermo and as “marauni” in Catania, is evoked by Salvatore Quasimodo in his poem “Strada di Agrigentum” of 1938. The line of his poem goes like this, “The marranzano sadly vibrates/ in the gorge of the driveway that climbs/ the moon-sharp hill, slow/ among the murmur of ‘Saracen olive trees“.
The Palio dei Normanni
Here is another tradition that every year in the month of August, since 1952, has been attracting tourists from all over Sicily and the world to the pretty little town of Piazza Armerina, famous for its mosaics and its splendid Villa Romana del Casale, and inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites since 1997.
Let’s talk about the Palio dei Normanni, also known as the “Cavalcata“, is a costume representation of a historical event dating back to the year 1000, when the Normans landed on the island. This tradition traces its origins to the late 17th and early 18th centuries, when the city’s then 12 confraternities first organized a historical parade of Norman militia to mark the festivities in honor of Mary Most Holy of the Assumption, now “Mary Most Holy of Victories.”
The Palio dei Normanni in Piazza Armerina is to date the most important medieval history reenactment in southern Italy, with more than 600 participants in period costume. Really not to be missed!
Religious festivals, from Santa Rosalia to Sant’Agata
Religious worship is very present in Sicily, a land tied to its saints and popular traditions of sacred origin. It must be said that there are indeed many religious festivals in honor of saints in Sicily, but among all of them those that take place in Palermo and Catania, respectively, stand out.
The feast of St. Agatha in Catania is one of the largest religious festivals in the world. This religious event is even held twice a year, in February and August. On the occasion of this celebration, the city is festively decorated and there are numerous lights and statues among the city’s alleys.
Its festivities, especially on Feb. 4 and 5, are truly phantasmagorical and particularly engaging because of the lively participation of the people (males in white coats and women in green coats) who flood the city streets and balconies. Suggestive and artistic is the illumination of the main church steps with 4,000 oil lamps and 11 rich waxwork with a swaying gait. Crowds of faithful shout, “Citizens, long live St. Agatha!” and others respond, “Sure, sure!”
In August in Palermo, preparations are made for the Feast in honor of the patron saint of the Sicilian capital. An event called “u fistinu” by the people of Palermo, which, on the evening of July 14, takes place right in the city’s historic center, where there is a spectacular parade of the handmade float that carries the statue of St. Rosalie in procession.
The atmosphere is undoubtedly more secular than religious, with markets dedicated to food, popular music and, at the end of the procession, the usual fireworks displays. On the morning of July 15 there is the sacred celebration in honor of the saint, and this is the real religious moment!
Petralia Sottana’s Cordella Ballet
The “Ballo della Cordella” (Cordella Ballet) in Petralia Sottana, held in August in the beautiful mountain village, is a re-enactment of very old peasant traditions, pre-Christian in origin, and stages one of Sicily’s most original dances.
Also called the Dance or the Song of the Twelve (twelve like the months of the year), it sees twelve pairs of young married couples dance around a pole topped with ears of corn. As they dance, they weave ribbons of various colors that symbolize the cyclical nature of the seasons or the constellations that revolve around the sun, thanking it for the fertility and life it offers the earth. The dance is also a tribute to young newlyweds, so that their union will be fruitful with offspring, well-being and joy.
Festivals of foods in Sicily
In the beautiful settings of Sicilian villages, countless festivals take place every year in every part of the island. In honor of good food, gastronomic traditions, and the excellence of the territory now famous throughout the world, the sagre in Sicily represent an unmissable event and a tradition that cannot be missed!
There are so many that we have collected the main Sicilian festivals in this small review dedicated to the products of Sicilian gastronomic and confectionery excellence.
The Chocolate of Modica is celebrated in the enchanting baroque town of eastern Sicily, which offers its visitors the chance to experience the taste of art and the art of taste at the same time. We are talking about Eurochocolate, which takes place every year in the charming Sicilian Baroque town with chocolate tastings, impromptu production, shows, workshops and exhibitions dedicated to Modica chocolate. In addition, various types of chocolate that are not easily found elsewhere can be purchased, such as chocolate with chili pepper, mint and orange.
The small town of Inspector Montalbano, Donnalucata, is known for its sea, artistic and historical beauty, but also for its seafood traditions and cuttlefish. On March 5 and 6, precisely on the feast of the patron saint St. Joseph, the Sepia Festival is held, prepared in different ways. You can enjoy spaghetti with cuttlefish ink, cuttlefish rolls stuffed with various seasonings, cuttlefish salad (discover the recipe of arancina with squid ink) and many other really tasty cuttlefish dishes.
In Sortino, in October, there is the Sagra del miele, one of Sicily’s most beloved and appreciated products, while on May 10 in Trecastagni, in the province of Catania, there is the Sagra del Carretto siciliano (Sicilian Cart) in honor of Sant’Alfio, with horse races, parades and solemn parades with festively decorated carts and great wine drinking!
There are as many as two festivals dedicated to the artichokes (stuffed artichokes alla siciliana recipe), that of Ramacca, renowned not only for its good bread but also for its vast production of artichokes, and that of Cerda, in the province of Palermo.
Not to be missed, in February, is the splendid Almond Blossom Festival in the Valley of the Temples, in Agrigento. Young people from all over the world parade through the streets of the city center to welcome spring, which manifests itself with the blooming of the first flowers.
And how can we not mention the Cannolo Festival in Piana degli Albanesi, in the province of Palermo? The long-awaited tasting of Sicily’s most famous dessert takes place in March in the pretty Sicilian lakeside village.
The Infiorata of Noto
In the Val di Noto, in the Baroque town par excellence, the highly anticipated Infiorata di Noto takes place every year in May.
Noto is famous for its extraordinary Baroque churches and the striking landscape that surrounds it, full of wide, green valleys that seem to cradle it. But it is also famous for one of the most spectacular and evocative events: the Infiorata.
Noto is transformed into an open-air flower garden. For three days, floral artists show off their artistic talents by covering the town’s main street, Via Nicolaci, with petals.
Above, the Church of Montevergini is contrasted with Prince Nicolaci’s palace “Golden Villa“, with its balconies defined by many as the most beautiful in the world, and the street becomes a colorful carpet with a strong visual impact. A unique tradition that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world every year!
The Carnival of Sciacca
Another unmissable tradition is that of the Carnival of Sciacca, one of the oldest in Sicily and artistically the most appreciated for the accuracy and craftsmanship of the floats. The parade of floats, festive atmosphere, costumes, masks and traveling sets color the town and make this event unique.
The venues stay open until dawn and people dance in the streets, behind and on the floats. Among the parading floats is one that offers sausages and wine to the public. The music and colors of the street performances light up the most beautiful carnival in Sicily.
11 timeless Sicilian customs and traditions
It would take more than one article to talk about Sicilian traditions, but we have done our best to introduce you to the most important ones and tell you a little about our history, culture and customs!
Let us know in the comments if you liked this article and if you would like to discover other traditions of our beloved Sicily!
Assa binidica Clara Amico. They say a smile is happiness, right under your nose. Your article made me smile with happiness to be a proud Sicilian (born in America). Thank you for making my day! Ciau.