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The Signature
Day of the Dead Celebration Returns to Sicily By Alberto Lunetta NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
“Armi santi, armi santi, io sugnu unu e vuatri tanti. Mentri sugnu ‘ni stu munnu di guai, cosi ri morti mittiminni assai!” Translated as “Holy souls, holy souls, there are many of you and I’m one. Bring me a lot of presents while I’m in this world of troubles.” This old religious poem, which sounds like a letter to Santa Claus, is one of the traditional prayers that Sicilian children say before going to bed on the night of November 1, the day before the “Il Giorno dei Morti” (The Day of Dead), an ancient Catholic celebration honoring departed ancestors, loved ones and relatives. There is the excitement as they believe that, during the night, the spirits of the dead will visit their homes to bring them presents. This heartfelt holiday is similar to the “El Dia de los Muertos,” a typical Spanish and Latin American celebration. Catholic families gather to make a pilgrimage to the cemeteries and spiritually reunite with their beloved ones. According to tradition, the spirits of the dead are welcomed in a friendly way. Their annual “homecoming” is a time to be symbolically shared with their families and loved ones by eating, drinking, and reminiscing. It is a way to keep alive the connection between the living and the dead. According to some historians, this festive tradition, which blends paganism and the Holy Scriptures, dates back to early Christian’s times. St. Odilo, fifth Abbot of Cluny,
Be ready to tempt your taste buds with the traditional Pupi ri zuccaru or puppets of boiled sugar that are among the most popular “Day of the Dead” ancient religious holiday treats. They are baked into symbolic shapes. You will find them in all pasticcerie (pastry shops) and panifici (bakeries). (Photo by https://italianocontesti.ru)
first established it in 998 AD. Sicilian anthropologist Giuseppe Pitrè says that in the past, Sicilian children would leave their shoes on windowsills in the hope that their dead relatives would place gifts for them. Traditions say dead relatives turn themselves into ants so they can easily enter into the homes to fill the baskets and the socks prepared by the kids with gifts. Since presents are only for good children, on the night of Nov. 1, kids who misbehaved promise to work on changing. Over the past few years, the Il Giorno dei Morti tradition has been often opposed to Halloween, raising concern among Catholics who fear that the latter might overshadow this century-old religious celebration.
In some cases there have been public protests organized by local priests. In schools, some parents have refused to send their children to Halloween-themed parties. On the other hand, Halloween parties are annually organized across Italy’s discos and clubs. Thousands of Sicilians have also visited the Sigonella’s annual AutumnFest as they are curious to see “the real thing” and taste American food. In addition to observing the Day of the Dead tradition, don’t miss the “Fiera dei Morti” (All Souls Day’s Fair), which is also known among Sigonellans as “shoe fair” because of the many stalls selling shoes. It actually features more than 200 booths selling "ITALIAN NEWS" continued on Page 13
