Italian News Acitrezza to

host Swordfish St. John the Baptist Festivals

By Dott. Lunetta

Make sure to mark this mouthwatering festival on your calendar! The annual Sagra del Pescespada di San Giovanni (St. John’ Swordfish Festival) returns to Acitrezza on June 16-18 and July 7-9. A great food event, it takes place at the slip of Alaggio (located under piazza Giovanni Verga, the town main square) in Acitrezza, one of the most picturesque seaside villages in the Catania province. The festival started in 1960 as a fried fish event called “Padellone” (big frying pan) but was later suspended for a few years in the 1980s and eventually resumed to become a swordfish festival. Starting at 8 p.m., delicious swordfish will be prepared by local skilled cooks. Fish will be served with a glass of fine local white wine, salad and bread.

The festival precedes the celebrations honoring the town patron saint St. John the Baptist that will be held at the end of the month under the breathtaking backdrop of the Acitrezza waterfront, the beautiful Lachea Island and the Faraglioni rock-cliffs which, according to Homer’s legend, are those hurled by giant Polyphemus at the escaping Ulysses. The festival will also feature arts and crafts vendors. For more information, visit https://www.facebook. com/groups/sagradelpescespada

A week after the Swordfish festival, Acitrezza will host another spectacular celebration, the St. John the Baptist Festival! So, make sure you don’t miss out on your chance to see how “Trizzoti” (Acitrezza townspeople) keep alive an ancient tradition displaying deep religious devotion and showing the special bond that the town has with the sea. “San Giovanni Battista” or St. John the Baptist has been venerated in Acitrezza for over 300 years through a spectacular festival running every year from June 23 through 25. Highlights include religious processions that will be held throughout the historic center and along the seaside. Spectacular performances such as the “U pisci a mari” pantomime and the “Calata dell’Angelo” (Descent of the Angel) will also be staged. The festival revolves around the “Parrocchia di San Giovanni Battista” (St. John the Baptist Parish) that hosts both the wooden statue depicting San Giovanni Battista and the saint’s relics. June 24 is the climax of the celebrations. Festival starts at 10 a.m. with the moving unveiling of the statue. In the afternoon, “U pisci a mari” is staged in the Urnazza district at 5 p.m. and begins with a group of fishermen in castoff clothing (a straw hat, a red shirt, tattered shorts, and a yellow sash; yellow and red are the colors of the saint) tied together by a rope walking towards the pier while dancing and singing among a large crowd. Three performers jump on a boat that is decorated with flowers, and yellow and red ribbons. The fourth actor a skilled swimmer, who plays the swordfish, dives into the water. The fifth performer plays the Raisi or crew leader. He places himself on the highest point of the pier giving directions to capture the fish. Once the swordfish is sighted, the Raisi shouts phrases in ancient Sicilian inciting the fishermen to catch it. After several attempts, the fish is eventually caught. The fishermen hoist it aboard and try to butcher it but the swordfish manages to

By Dott. Lunetta

Strawberry Festival returns to Maletto (June 23-25) Troina honors St. Sylvester in June

Sigonella strawberry-lovers should not miss the 36th edition of the Sagra della Fragola (Strawberry Festival) a premiere food event taking place in Maletto historic center from June 23 through 25. The festival kicks off on Friday, June 23 at 10 a.m. in the main square (piazza XXIV) with a free strawberry tasting. In the afternoon, a flag throwers’ performance is held at 5 p.m.

Bring the entire a weekend and entertainment! The annual escape twice. The fishing goes on and the fishermen capture the swordfish again (this time it is a real one, usually a dead shark or tuna fish). But once again, while the fishermen are about to praise the tastiness of the fish, it escapes disappearing into the sea. The fishermen give up in despair, argue and overturn the boat. The pantomime is over.

Later at 7 p.m., a solemn procession (Trionfale uscita del venerato simulacro del Santo Patrono) starts from piazza Giovanni Verga. Devotees screaming: “Viva San Giovanni”

(Long live St. John) escort the statue depicting the saint through the streets of the southern part Acitrezza.

At 8:30 p.m. and later at 10:30 p.m., the “Calata dell’Angelo”

(Descent of the Angel) is staged in piazza delle Scuole. This performance, which is accompanied by music and fireworks in the background, features the descent of an angel that pays homage to the touring statue of the saint on behalf of the city districts. A concert of the Italian Army brass band (Fanfara Bersaglieri dell’Etna) will be held at 9 p.m. in the main square. At the end of the tour (around 11:30 p.m.), devotees perform the “Cussa” (the run) that consists of covering the last route of the procession (via Provinciale) running while carrying the statue.

A firework show ends the festivities while the statue is placed back into the Parrocchia di San Giovanni.

On the last day of the festival, June 25, holy mass is celebrated at 11:30 a.m. at the St. John Parish. In the evening at 7 p.m., a procession leaves from piazza Giovanni Verga and proceeds through the northern part of the town until late at night.

During the procession at 8 p.m., the “Calata dell’Angelo” show is replicated in via Provinciale. At midnight, amazing fireworks by Vaccalluzzo, one of the most fireworks company in the world, will be staged. The festival will then end with the “Cussa” performance.

For detailed schedule visit www.parrocchiaacitrezza.it or www.acitrezzaonline.it (this website will also broadcast the celebrations live).

Festival highlights include the following events: Sicilian carts’ parade (June 24 – 11 a.m. in the historic center), Cooking show featuring the scrumptious “risotto alla fragola” or strawberry risotto (June 25, noon in piazza Basilio Catania) and the tasting of the giant “grande torta alla fragola,” a huge record-breaking strawberry cake weighing over 6,200 pounds! (June 25- 5 p.m. parade and 6 p.m. cake tasting).

Other strawberry-base specialties served during the festival include “pizza alla fregola” (strawberry pizza), “arancini alla fragola” (deep-fried rice balls with strawberries), “Macedonia alla fragola” (fruit salad with strawberries) and more. Music shows will be held every evening ai 9 p.m. in Piazza IV Novembre.

During the festival, the local tourist office will offer guided tours of the ruins of the castle, the town’s museum and the other attractions.

Maletto is a picturesque town nestled on the slopes of Mount Etna that is nicknamed the “Città delle fragole” (Strawberries’ City). There are three variety of strawberries that are cultivated in Maletto, “Madame Moutho” a large, juicy strawberry, the small and tender “Fragolina”, or Fragraria Vesca,” which are commonly used in desserts and the “Rifiorente”, which can be grown 11 months of the year and therefore is nicknamed “the four-season strawberry”. The fruit is ripe between May and June.

The Maletto juicy strawberry was awarded in 2013 a Municipal Designation of Origin status (DE.CO.), a seal of quality certifying the specific geographical origin of a certain food product

The historic origin of the cultivation dates back to 1906 when the “Madame Moutho” of France variety was first planted in the Nelson’s Duchy at the beginning of last century. The Duchy is a small castle located in the outskirts of Maniace, a hilltop village located about eight miles from Bronte. It was built in the 18th century on the ruins of a medieval abbey erected on a basaltic rock by Queen Margaret of Navarra in 1173 and belonged to the world-renowned British Admiral Horatio Nelson, the one who defeated the French at sea during the Napoleonic Wars.

However, since the cultivation was not effective, it was decided to move it, in the 1950s, in the upper mountain area of town, in the fertile soils of volcanic origin and cultivated mainly in association with vineyards. Thus, cultivation developed rapidly, reaching great commercial success, characterizing itself by its peculiarities of flavor, goodness and fragrance. In a short time, strawberry became the landmark of Maletto. Strawberries are rich in calcium, iron and vitamin C and contain a high level of antioxidant capacity against free radicals. For more information and detailed schedules, visit https://www.facebook.com/ photo?fbid=369018458596809&set=pb.100064659733610.-2207520000..

Troina, a picturesque Sicilian town nestled among the hills in the Enna province, will host a plethora of late spring and summer events for the entire family through June 12th. The town is famous for being an historic military site. It was actually one of the main battlefields of WWII during the 1943 Allied Troops’ liberation of Sicily. On May 28th, Troina townspeople will hold the first part of main religious festival featuring the traditional “Festa D’a Ddrarata,” a pilgrimage which consists of riding in groups, composed of members from the local brotherhoods, on decorated horses who went to the local forests to pick laurel branches which were later offered to San Silvestro or St. Sylvester, the town patron saint.

Other upcoming festival’s highlights include the “Kubbaita” a spectacular traditional historic Arabic horse parade re-enacting the 1535 triumphal entry of Emperor Carl V into town. The parade will be performed at 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 5 and will begin from piazza Matteotti to arrive to piazza Conte Ruggiero. Re-enactors featuring knights and ladies in Spanish-style costumes from the 16th century, with grooms, horses, valets and flag-wavers, will parade through the streets of the city, throwing and distributing nougats and sweets to the festivalgoers. Also planned along the route is a flag-waving show in to be held in Antonio Gramsci Square and a grand finale show. The parade will end in the Conte Ruggero Square.

Other highlights will also include the traditional Sagra della Vastedda cu Sammucu, a mouthwatering food festival celebrating the most important Troina specialty, a delicious flat oven-baked bread filled with elder flowers, salami and tuma cheese (June 17 and 18). For more information and detailed schedules, visit the following web sites: https:// enjoytroina.it/festinosansilvestro/ https://www.comune.troina.en.it/turismo/index.php/it/ focus/folklore/il-festino

• Please note that some of the festival’s schedules, dates, times and venues are subject to change. Please check the festivals’ websites for updates.