These later days of summer during the harvest time are when Sicilians celebrate the Madonna, or “our lady,” the mother, with great reverence — in other words, our planet, Mother Earth. The dark, fertile earth provides for us and gives us sustenance, and since ancient times, throughout the Mediterranean, the spirit of the giving goddess…
Tag: tindari
The View At Tindari, Sicily
Punta Marinello beach at the Laghetti di Marinello nature reserve from the promontory of Tindari, Messina Province, Sicily
Celebrating The Madonna On September 8
September 8 is considered the birthday of the Blessed Mother by the Catholic Church. As a result, throughout Sicily this weekend, there are festivals to celebrate the Madonna. It’s not clear why this date was officially chosen as such; however, because this time of the agricultural year is traditionally a major harvest season, for centuries…
Thousands Pay Homage In Tindari
The preparations are well underway. Since last week, the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna of Tindari, high on its promotory, has been holding nine successive days of prayer and meditation in preparation for the feast day, September 8. On September 7, in recognition of the mysterious Madonna Bruna from the east, devotees will hold a…
I am black but beautiful
Nigra sum, sed formosa = I am black but beautiful… From the Song of Songs, 1:5. The Black Madonna of Tindari is celebrated today, September 8. Black Madonnas, which are found throughout the Mediterranean basin, are venerated in localities where ancient goddesses such as Artemis, Isis, Venus, Persephone, Cybele, and Mater Dea were worshiped for centuries….
Contemporary Art for an Ancient Icon
The spectacular and colorful Sanctuary, “il Santuario della Madonna del Tindari,” was built in the 20th century to accommodate the flow of pilgrims coming to see the iconic statue of Tindari’s “Madonna Bruna” or Black Madonna. This mural is from the dome above the church’s main altar. September 8 is the feast day in honor…
Celebrating the Black Madonna of Tindari
Thousands of pilgrims are expected on Monday, September 7 at the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna of Tindari. The town of Patti is even planning to close down one side of State Highway 113 to accommodate all the devotees expected to participate in the multiple masses, the solemn evening procession of the iconic Madonna Nera…
Immortal Leaves
This column capital from the small archaeological museum at Tindari is a classic example of Greco-Roman Corinthian architectural design. What we learned from our guide Sebastiano was that the ornamental leaves accenting the column’s top are from the Acanthus mollis plant (also known in English as bear’s breeches). Acanthus mollis and its sister-plant Acanthus spinosus…
Sacred with a Kitsch
Today we visited the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna of Tindari. Here, you can see there is always some kitsch… No matter how sacred, nothing is sacred!
Celebrating What Once Was and What Now Is
When immigrants from Tindari and Patti, Sicily came to New York at the turn of the 20th century, they brought with them the tradition of celebrating the Black Madonna or “Madonna Bruna.” Although East 13th Street has changed significantly in the last 50 years and Sicilians en masse no longer live in the East Village,…