Tag: catania
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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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The Feast Of Sant’Agata Is Upon Us
The three day mid-winter Feast of Sant’Agata is upon us! Agata was a virgin martyr who died in 251 CE. Legend is that she was the beautiful daughter of a wealthy family from Catania. A faithful Christian, Agatha swore herself to Jesus. Important to know, during her lifetime, Christianity was illegal under Roman rule. So,…
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Sicily’s Inspired Pistachio Pesto
Etna erupted last night! (NB This is an old photo.) Here she is from Bronte on the western slope with glorious pistachio trees in the foreground. Pistachios love the mineral and saline rich volcanic soil of Mamma Etna. It makes them taste so good! That’s why Sicilians invented pistachio pesto to go on pasta! Learn…
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The Beginnings Of Etna In Aci Trezza
Gli Scogli dei Ciclopi, the Rocks of the Cyclops, are basalt (volcanic) rocks that protrude from the sea at Aci Trezza, a fishing community on Sicily’s east coast, north of Catania. Local legend says that these are boulders from Mt. Etna, thrown here, into the sea, at Homer’s hero, Odysseus, after he and his men…
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World War II In Sicily: Thank You Veterans
Thank you, Veterans! In July and August 1943, during World War II, Sicily was a significant theater in the fight against fascism. German and Italian Axis forces occupied the island, and the Allied forces of the United States, Canada, and Britain aligned for Operation “Husky,” and amphibious and land assault to take Italy and eventually…
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Mount Etna’s First Flora
When you walk on Etna’s craters you can imagine how rich the mineral-filled lavic soil will one day become. It takes 100 to 700 years for lava soil to support new vegetation growth. One of the first natural plants to return (and pictured here) is Sicilian astragalus. Others include camomile flowers, Etna rennet, and tansy…
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Our Hostesses Taught Us Well
One of the many memorable moments of last year’s Secret Sicily: Life In A Remote Sicilian Town tour was making a pasta lunch with the ladies of Licodia Eubea (and their husbands too!). It was all hands on in order to make fresh cavatelli with a traditional meat ragù. Maria Concetta, Antonella, and Carmen wasted…