Carnivale begins

This is the week that Carnivale began in Sicily. Costumes, parades, fireworks and festivities in almost every town. Some formal with parades, costume contests and special events. Some informal with people meeting in the piazza each evening with music and the children in costumes..........these are the most interesting to me. The people of the town chatting and exclaiming over the children and the music weaving in and through the Sicilian night.

Tonight as we went into Motta for dinner we came upon what looked like an impromptu parade. Street musicians, clowns short and tall, jugglers and a fire eater entertaining as they walked down the street. As we followed and watched we realized this was a professional troupe (what normal person would want to be a fire-eater) with police escorting them and stopping traffic as they wandered through town.

We watched and took pictures for a few minutes then took our friend to dinner at Buon Gustaio--a great place for dinner-----garlic soup, "molta buono."

Carnivale, for those who are wondering, is the Italian version of Mardi Gras (without the drunken brawls), though a much older tradition here--of course. The costumes are intricate, ornate and sometimes outlandish (how about two waist-high chicken heads attached to a skirt/dress). There are parades, costume competitions, street vendors and music everywhere. It is a time for people to celebrate each other and the coming of spring. The Sicilaians are a religious people and thank God in every part of their life. Many of the mini-floats are dedicated to the various professions--bakers, butchers, etc.---which makes for very interesting floats.

We're planning to take Tracy and Bill to the final day of the carnivale in Misterbianco. It should be a great experience--a real Sicilian adventure.