Category: Observations about Culture
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Cat On A Terracotta Roof
Cat on a terracotta roof Ragusa, Sicily
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Votive Offerings Through The Millennia
Archaeologists are very careful to identify to whom an ancient temple is dedicated until they have concrete evidence (and I don’t just mean concrete in the sense of stone!). In Siracusa, for example, we know that the temple to Apollo on Ortigia is for Apollo because there is an inscription on the east-facing stairs stating…
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Etna Awakened
Sicilians are buzzing because Mount Etna erupted last evening. No fear, Mamma Etna woke from a sleep, which locals much prefer over the other option: an earthquake. Authorities are monitoring the activity and are not concerned. (View of Etna from Taormina during a 2017 eruption)
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From Bawdy To Fancy: Chiacchiere Di Carnevale
Similar to the fried dough Americans consume at Italian-American street festivals, chiacchiere di Carnevale, pictured, are a crunchy, sweet, fried dough garnished with powdered sugar.
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Topsy-turvy Carnevale In Acireale, Sicily
Normally, this weekend would be the height of Carnevale in Acireale, Sicily. Carnevale or Carnival is the period leading up to Ash Wednesday and Lent. In pre-Christian times, this outdoor, spring festival, which took place before the arduous planting season, turned everything topsy-turvy: Masters would become the servents and servents the masters. Revelers would hide…
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Devoted Cittadini! Cittadini!
Even though this year’s feast for Sant’Agata will not be on the streets because of the Coronavirus pandemic, it is in the hearts of devotees in Catania. If you close your eyes, in your mind’s eye you can hear the thousands in their call and response: “Semu tutti devoti tutti? Cittadini, Cittadini!” “Certo! Certo!” (“Are we…
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W Sant’Agata!
Viva Sant’Agata! Word spread throughout Sicily about the brutality that Agatha endured and how she stood strong in her Christian faith through it all (as recounted in yesterdays’ post). Over time, her cult grew. That brings us to contemporary Catanian’s devotion to the virgin martyr that reaches a fever pitch during the annual feast from…
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Sicily Is In An Orange Zone
Sicily is currently at the height of its orange producing season, when many different varieties of this beloved citrus fruit are sweet, juicy, and ready to be eaten right from the millions of trees throughout the island. In addition, importantly, Sicilians have reason to celebrate. Today the region moved from being designated a “Red Zone,”…
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The Mystery Of The Madonna of Custonaci, Sicily
The Madonna of Custonaci is a cherished, sacred painting in the towns of Erice and Custonaci, where her sanctuary is located. It has a fascinating legend of its origins “from the east.” I’ll discuss its story and more on Tuesday, January 19 at 7:30PM Eastern on Zoom. To register and attend this complimentary presentation, visit…