The Province of Trapani stated the works to restore the oldest salt-boat in Italy. The name of the boat is Schifazzo - San Giacomo. The restoration is going to take about eight months and will be taken over by local experts.
News Traditions trapani TravelNews Traditions trapani TravelEvery year at teh end of January, the statue of Santa Agata goes around the streets of Catania… Watch the video!
A dear friend from Capo d’Orlando wrote to Sicily Guide about the recent feast in his hometown. Thanks, Duilio!
On October 21 and 22, the traditional “Festa della Madonna” of Capo d’Orlando (Messina province) took place under a torrential rain. This explains the lower number of visitors for this annual feast which is very much loved in the area.
During the celebrations the “Madonna del Monte” is taken down from the “Promontorio” of the coastal city and led through its streets which were full of stands with many varieties of merchandise as the previous years.
Being this a typical event in Sicily, there were amusement rides located next to the local basketball dome. In spite of the abnormal weather conditions, a good amount of people were able to participate and enjoy their free time in Capo d’Orlando.
Technorati Tags [ madonna del monte | capo d’orlando | sicily | messina ]
capo dorlando madonna del monte messina sicily Traditionscapo dorlando madonna del monte messina sicily TraditionsAs I have written before, I do not think that Sicilian dialect could be used as an effective destination marketing tool. However, it is nice to see that interest around it grows. An increasing number of articles are published and people ask more about it. The Sicilian dialect is part of our cultural heritage, but it is erroneous to think that there is only one Sicilian dialect. There are many. This is the main reason why I think it is impossible to codify specific grammatical and lexical rules for the Sicilian dialect: it is a popular tradition and belongs to our oral tradition. It is widely spoken and understood at home, but people write in standard Italian.
Here are some interesting links to learn more about Sicilian dialect:
Sicilian for Beginners
Sicilian Phrasebook
Sicilian Proverbs
Sicilian-English Dictionary
Sicilian Literature/Stories About Sicily
Technorati Tags [ sicilian dialect | sicily | sicilian literature | sicilian proverbs | sicilian-english dictionary | sicilian phrasebook | sicilian for beginners ]
sicilian dialect sicilian english dictionary sicilian for beginners sicilian literature sicilian phrasebook sicilian proverbs sicilysicilian dialect sicilian english dictionary sicilian for beginners sicilian literature sicilian phrasebook sicilian proverbs sicily
Ferragosto is an Italian holiday celebrated on August 15, traditionally believed by Roman Catholics to be the day when the Blessed Virgin Mary was bodily assumed in to heaven. However, this holiday was celebrated in the Roman Empire to honor the gods -specifically Diana- and the cycle of fertility and maturity. In fact, the present name of the holiday is taken from its original title of Feriae Augusti (from Wikipedia). Today, Ferragosto is a big national day in Italy: everything is closed and you barely find a doctor in case of emergency!
Il Gigante e la Gigantessa Are on View from August 10
Messina in the Eastern side of Sicily celebrates Ferragosto mixing sacred and profane traditions. Prior to August 15, the colossal statues of a couple of giants on horseback - a Moor called Grifone and a inhabitant of the village of Camaro (above Messina) called Mata, founders of the city according to the myth (in the photo) - are taken around the city.
The Religious Feast and Procession on August 15
Every August 15, Messina celebrates the Assumpion of the Virgin Mary with a traditional procession that sees the vara of the Madonna dragged with ropes by local people (view video of the 2006 procession below). The term vara, meaning literally coffin, derives from the small glass casket holding the figure of the mortal body of the Virgin, at the base of the machine. The procession goes extremely slowly due also to the particular cone-shaped statue representing the image of Crist supporting his mother in the palm of his hand and raising her to heaven. On the background of the statue is the structure of the universe: from the world up to heaven, with the angelic hierarchies in between. The procession is by no doubt one of the most suggestive traditional festivities in Sicily. If you are around, do not miss it!
Video of the 2006 Procession
More about Messina
How to get there
Where to eat
More about Ferragosto in Messina
Technorati Tags [ sicily | messina | ferragosto in sicily | august 15 | ferragosto in messina | grifone | mata | gigante | gigantessa ]
The ancient fishing village of San Vito Lo Capo, located between the Gulf of Castellammare and the city of Trapani on the northern coast of Sicily, hosts an annual Cous Cous Festival each September. Dedicated to exploring the culinary and cultural aspects of the tasty Mediterranean dish, the festival celebrates the cultural legacy of the Arabic peoples who ruled Sicily for more than 150 years.
This year the festival will take place from September 25 through 30. The festival also includes four evenings of music, featuring free performances by Sicilian and African World Music artists Sudd MM-Anita Vitale, Roy Paci & Aretuska , Dam, Khaled, Agricantus, and Sasao Meravigliao in the Piazza Santuario in the heart of the ancient town.
Technorati Tags [ cous cous festival | san vito lo capo | trapani | sicily ]
My family has always been extremely devoted to the Patron Saint of Pace del Mela (Me): Maria SS. della Visitazione. My grandfather was the treasurer of the brotherhood named after the Madonna. July the 2nd is the day Pace del Mela, my hometown, celebrates its patron saint. It is one of the town’s main celebrations of the summer.
As a child I was awaiting for this feast so badly! I am called after the Madonna and remember feeling like everybody was celebrating me. There is a week-long events preceding the big procession on July the 2nd. The procession starts from the Parish Church in Pace Alta after the mass celebrated at 6PM. We used to have a big meal at my grandparents’ after the procession and then back to Pace Alta to celebrate with the music played by the municipal band and to wait for the fireworks late at night.
I am not particularly religious and I think that just a few are left who truly are, even in my hometown. Religion is lived as a tribal thing in Italy and even more so in Sicily. However, I miss the atmosphere around the event and the trepidation that my grandparents had in getting ready for July the 2nd. I will celebrate the 4th of July here in the USA for the seventh consecutive year now. Still a big celebration with fireworks…
Technorati Tags [ pace del mela | sicily | maria ss. visitazione ]
Antonio Vultaggio, the last surviving producer of handmade fishnets in Sicily — and perhaps in Italy — has died at 78. Born into a family of fishnet weavers, Vultaggio had spent his entire life after age 5 creating fishnets by hand, and his death represents the end of the historical trade in the region.
While creating handmade fishnets was once the norm throughout Italy, an influx of factory-made nets in the 1970s meant the craft was no longer a necessity. Vultaggio even tried to work at one of the factories that produced the nets during the late 1980s.
Ultimately, the tradesman gave up his job in the Sicilian town of Mazara del Vallo, citing the lengthy commute from his home in the city of Trapani. ”I’m an old guy, a creature of habit. Maybe if I was 20 years younger I would have stuck it out,” he said at the time.
Source: ANSA
Technorati Tags [ antonio vultaggio | mazara del vallo | handmade fishnet | sicily ]
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