Sicilian festivals are important to the people of Sicily. While many revolve around religious holidays, carnivals are considered secular events. They are traditionally held in the week before the beginning of Lent. Originally, the holidays were meant to consume fresh food, as Lent is a time of prayer and fasting.
Some of the most famous carnivals are held in the communes of Sciacca, Acireale and Termini Imerese. Those who participate in these Sicilian festivals often wear masks. While the masks used in Italian carnivals are usually like those of Pulcinella or Brighella, traditional Sicilian masks are more characteristic of Jardinara or Varca, especially in the province of Palermo.
The people of Sicily are said to be religious and superstitious. Carnivals are full of symbolic gestures, such as the burning of the puppets, which symbolizes the burning of the bad part of the soul. The floats in the parades are sometimes representative of political groups from Sicily’s past. But, even for a person who is not familiar with the symbolism, these parades are a pleasure to witness. In some areas, the parades last two or three days. For example, the Sciacca carnival starts on Saturday and ends on Tuesday.
The people of Sicily are close families. Children are very important to parents and generally accompany them to all social events. Kids love the parades and the floats are designed to be entertaining and enjoyable for young and old alike. Many Sicilian festivals date back to ancient times. The origins of the carnival date back to 1600.
In addition to carnivals, there are celebrations of the main religious holidays and some that celebrate the religion itself. For example, the Byzantine Epiphany celebrations are held in January annually. This is a religious event, but many non-religious people enjoy the ceremony. Each town has a patron saint and every year a celebration is held in his honor. In Acireale, the celebration takes place in January in honor of Saint Sebastian. In Catania, the Feast of Santa Águeda is celebrated in February.
Tourists, as well as the people of Sicily, enjoy the Almond Blossom Festival, which is also in February. It is a traditional folk festival that takes place in the Valley of the Temples, which features parades, shows, crafts, and other exhibits. Saint Joseph’s Day is in March and celebrations are held throughout Sicily on that day. In his honor cakes, breads and special dinners are prepared.
Every year an international film festival is held in Taormina, usually at the beginning of July. An Arab-style horse race is held in Noto every June. Every month of the year, there are Sicilian festivals to enjoy. For tourists, there really are endless things to do and see in Sicily.
