Love is in the air! Today is Martedì Grasso–Fat Tuesday–the final day of Carnevale! It’s also the day before St. Valentine’s Day… mmm… considering the ancient practices of Carnevale, could it be related to how we interpret Valentine’s Day today? I’m not really sure, but I’ll venture to guess there is a relationship between the…
Tag: carnevale
Sicily’s Almond Nougat
Freshly made almond nougat is prevalent at street festivals like Carnevale in Acireale, Sicily. The craftsmen who make the sugar and almond sweet, called cubaita in many parts of Sicily, put on a show right in front of your eyes, mixing and forming the boiling-hot, teeth-cracking bars in seconds as it quickly cools on the…
A Glimpse Of 2018 Carnevale
Experience Sicily’s Evelina Buttitta and Salvo Rubino are in Acireale, Sicily for Carnevale this weekend enjoying the festivities. Evelina sent me this photo of one of the floats to share with you. Enjoy!
Where Are Your Carnevale Masks?
Hey, guys, where are your masks? For Carnevale, it has been tradition for centuries to dress in costume in order to hide one’s identity. … Let’s start from the beginning. So, “carne” means meat, but really, it means flesh. In this case, flesh is for body. In pre-Christian times, this period of CARNE-vale, before the…
Carnival in Sicily
Teams of townspeople spend months planning and creating fantastic floats to showcase during Carnevale in Acireale. This animated Zeus from 2017 was a awe-inspiring work of art, especially at night, when the papier mâchè character was lit, as pictured, and he threatened to throw his flashing thunderbolts. During the days and evenings of Carnevale, the…
The Most Beautiful Carnevale in Sicily
As we approach Ash Wednesday next week, throughout Sicily revelers are celebrating Carnevale. Acireale, where I was for last year’s party, is the place to be! Over the next few days, tens of thousands of people will process through the town’s streets wearing costumes while throwing confetti, eating Sicilian-style almond nougat and other sweets, making…
Step Outside of Yourself
Happy Halloween! Pictured is one of the eye catching floats from the 2017 Carnevale in Acireale, Sicily. Although Halloween, as we Americans celebrate it, is gaining some popularity in Sicily, Carnevale (the days leading up to Lent) is the time when they dress in costumes and create mischief. No matter when you put on a…
Appreciate The Bounty
My fellow travelers from February’s You, Me, and Sicily Carnevale trip in February will appreciate this. Three days ago, I found another piece of confetti (one piece, left, in August … The lot on the street in Acireale, right, in February) … I don’t even know where it came from! Thinking about the cycles of…
Carnevale Acireale At Night
It’s super late after a long day and evening of taking in the tricks, treats, and folk art of Carnevale in Acireale! The best part for me is talking to the people of the town about the festival and what it means to them. Pictured is one part of an elaborate float that featured the…
Let Go at Carnevale in Acireale
What fun to dance in the conga line in the Piazza del Duomo of Acireale, Sicily with new friends! That is what Carnevale is all about, letting lose, forgetting the winter blues, and finding joy in the moment. Here I am with some revelers! For Tuesday (Martedì Grasso/Mardi Gras), I’m getting a masque!