Category: Observations about Culture
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Sicily’s Santa Lucia Lights The Darkness
Santa Lucia, the protectress of light, eyes, and grain, is a guide for us during these darkest days of the year. Darkness signifies more than just the absence of light. It challenges us to turn inwards and perhaps examine our shadows. This time of year, when the sun sets so early in the day, it…
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Look for Sheep in Sicily and You’ll Find Good Fortune
Seeing sheep brings good fortune! Back in ancient times, livestock represented wealth. Before fiat currency, you traded grain, work, tools, or services for livestock. Follow this: In modern Italian, *pecore* means sheep. In ancient Roman, in other words, Latin, *pecus* means livestock (i. e., sheep or cattle). The ancient Latin word for money was *pecunia*.…
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That Hand Door Knocker
The handdoor knocker you’ve seen all over Italy and the Mediterranean is ancient and symbolic.
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At the Fish Store in Sicily
At my fish store today in Porticello outside of Palermo, when I walked in, the fish monger said to me, “You must try the oysters that we just got this morning from France… along with the fresh red shrimp!” So, he prepared them for me with some lemon and pepper, and eccolo! The most amazing…
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Saint Joseph’s Day 2025 in NYC
Celebrate Saint Joseph’s Day with Experience Sicily in New York City on Sunday, March 16 at Cacio e Pepe restaurant in the East Village. We’ll have a full traditional meal of maccu, pasta con le sarde, other dishes, and of course, sfinci di San Giuseppe (pictured)! Full menu at link below. Spots are filling up…
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Today’s Sicily Passeggiata
It’s been raining for days. Today, we had some sun, so before getting down to business, I went for a passeggiata in Porticello. Natural moments in a fishing village. The fisherman is weaving a basket trap for shrimp and other crustaceans.
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Custonaci, Sicily’s Annual Live Nativity Scenes
We took a trip back in time today during the 40th Edition of the live presepio (Nativity) presented in Custonaci, Sicily. With Erice as the backdrop with Venus rising with the moon, this was a special visit! Inside the area of the magnificent natural Grotta Mangiapane (Mangiapane family cave), locals take on the roles of…
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Saint Martin’s Day Biscuits in Sicily
November 11 is Saint Martin’s Day. In Sicily, it marks two important moments of the agricultural year. It is the day when wheat farmers must have finished planting the seeds for next year’s grain, and it is when, traditionally, wine makers taste their fermenting new wines (the juice/must that was created from August/September/October’s grape harvest)…
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Day 16 of 16 Days of Sicily | Stories of Unknown Superheroes that Must Be Told
On my last tour, one of my guests who has 100% Sicilian heritage asked me a question about the mafia. I responded, “I will talk about it – – a lot – – but when we are with the whole group. I’ll tell you some stories.” Discussing organized crime and corruption and how it has…