Acireale
REIS: Sicilian Intangible Heritage Register Celebrations
Carnival of Acireale
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Description

Carnival of Acireale

Property included in the Register of Intangible Heritage of Sicily (REIS)

Il carnival of Acireale, defined The most beautiful Carnival in Sicily and the third in Italy, is one of the oldest on the island, and takes place every year in the city of Acireale in the province of Catania. Among its features there is the parade of allegorical and flowered floats.

I allegorical-grotesque floats in papier-mâché they are finely crafted works, which give their show through thousands of bulbs and lights, spectacular movements and constantly evolving scenographies during the performances. They are the only wagons in the world to use similar lighting systems and mechanical and hydraulic movements.

I flowered floats they have the characteristic, similar to that of various carnivals on the Côte d'Azur and Liguria, of showing subjects created entirely with (real) flowers arranged side by side. They are also equipped with mechanical movements and lights.

The Acese carnival has very ancient origins. It is thought, in fact, that the demonstration was born spontaneously among the people and therefore repeated over the years by the people, who, free from rigid constraints, could joke with a certain freedom, giving rise to saturnalia in masks where it was customary to target the powerful of the time. with satire and mockery. One of the first masks of the Acese carnival was the Abbatazzu (also called Pueta Minutizzu) who, carrying around large books, made fun of the clerical class of the time, and especially about the Abbot-Bishop of Catania, in whose diocese the town fell precisely.

The first official document that mentions the event is a payment warrant from 1594
In the XNUMXth century it was customary to make a Battaglia of oranges and lemons so much felt that on March 3, 1612 the Criminal Court was forced to ban it. At the end of the seventeenth century, the earthquake that shook eastern Sicily (Val di Noto earthquake) also decreed a period of mourning and for several years the traditional carnival was not held. But already at the beginning of the eighteenth century the event was reborn, probably also encouraged by the moment of great ferment and hopes that had been created with the post-earthquake reconstruction. Some new masks entered the scene u barons (the baron) and the very famous Manti.

The parades of allegorical floats began in 1880. Initially they were preceded by the carriages of the nobles decorated (called lecassariate o prams) and later papier-mâché floats were designed. Papier-mâché was thought of precisely because in the city there were many artisans who already used this technique for decorations.

Since 1929, the year of the establishment of the autonomous company and health resort of Acireale, the Acese Carnival has been organized as it can be admired today. From 1930 the flowered machines, or cars decorated with flowers, another peculiarity of the event that will survive to the present day, even if now set up in much larger wagons.
In some editions, floats decorated with citrus will also be created.

Over the years the figure of Tankers has pushed and increased the artistic value of the event. Among the most important tankers we remember Sebastiano Longo, Rosario Lizzio, Camillo Ardizzone, Giovanni Coco, the Parlato brothers and Luciano Scalia.

Il carnival of Acireale, defined The most beautiful Carnival in Sicily and the third in Italy, is one of the oldest on the island, and takes place every year in the city of Acireale in the province of Catania. Among its features there is the parade of allegorical and flowered floats.

I allegorical-grotesque floats in papier-mâché they are finely crafted works, which give their show through thousands of bulbs and lights, spectacular movements and constantly evolving scenographies during the performances. They are the only wagons in the world to use similar lighting systems and mechanical and hydraulic movements.

I flowered floats they have the characteristic, similar to that of various carnivals on the Côte d'Azur and Liguria, of showing subjects created entirely with (real) flowers arranged side by side. They are also equipped with mechanical movements and lights.

The Acese carnival has very ancient origins. It is thought, in fact, that the demonstration was born spontaneously among the people and therefore repeated over the years by the people, who, free from rigid constraints, could joke with a certain freedom, giving rise to saturnalia in masks where it was customary to target the powerful of the time. with satire and mockery. One of the first masks of the Acese carnival was the Abbatazzu (also called Pueta Minutizzu) who, carrying around large books, made fun of the clerical class of the time, and especially about the Abbot-Bishop of Catania, in whose diocese the town fell precisely.

The first official document that mentions the event is a payment warrant from 1594
In the XNUMXth century it was customary to make a Battaglia of oranges and lemons so much felt that on March 3, 1612 the Criminal Court was forced to ban it. At the end of the seventeenth century, the earthquake that shook eastern Sicily (Val di Noto earthquake) also decreed a period of mourning and for several years the traditional carnival was not held. But already at the beginning of the eighteenth century the event was reborn, probably also encouraged by the moment of great ferment and hopes that had been created with the post-earthquake reconstruction. Some new masks entered the scene u barons (the baron) and the very famous Manti.

The parades of allegorical floats began in 1880. Initially they were preceded by the carriages of the nobles decorated (called lecassariate o prams) and later papier-mâché floats were designed. Papier-mâché was thought of precisely because in the city there were many artisans who already used this technique for decorations.

Since 1929, the year of the establishment of the autonomous company and health resort of Acireale, the Acese Carnival has been organized as it can be admired today. From 1930 the flowered machines, or cars decorated with flowers, another peculiarity of the event that will survive to the present day, even if now set up in much larger wagons.
In some editions, floats decorated with citrus will also be created.

Over the years the figure of Tankers has pushed and increased the artistic value of the event. Among the most important tankers we remember Sebastiano Longo, Rosario Lizzio, Camillo Ardizzone, Giovanni Coco, the Parlato brothers and Luciano Scalia.

Source: Wikipedia

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Technical sheet prepared by: Region of Sicily - Department of cultural heritage and Sicilian identity - CRicd: Regional center for inventory, cataloging and documentation and Sicilian regional film library 

Intangible Heritage Register

N. Prog. 4
Well: Carnival
Book: REI - Book of celebrations
Approval date: 25-01-2006
Category: Party
Province: Catania
 
Municipality: Acireale
 
Chronological News
The origin of the Acireale Carnival dates back to the 500th century and is linked to the rites of preparation for the Easter fast. The celebrations were spontaneous and satirical towards the nobility and the powerful locals. The first Acese carnival mask appears in 1667, the Abbatazzu, this was carrying a large book with satirical texts with the intention of mimicking and mocking nobles or members of the clergy. In the eighteenth century other masks were added, i Barons, who in the rich style of the clothes made fun of the local aristocracy and the Manti, which allowed the extras to remain anonymous. In the 800th century the celebrations were enriched thanks to the participation of the nobles who with their rich decorated carriages, the prams, took part in the parade, throwing colored sugared almonds. The parade, which took the name of cassariata, wound along the streets of the city center. The first allegorical floats were produced by local artisans starting from 1880 who over time specialized, surpassing the workers of the neighboring municipalities for beauty, sumptuousness and creativity. From 1929 the event took on a more structured character. The Autonomous Company of the Healthcare Station began to plan and organize the carnival parade which has acquired primacy over the carnivals in the area. From 1930 the floats were decorated on the idea of ​​the nobility with flowers and, starting from the 50s-60s, the first papier-mâché masks were made and the so-called lilliput, miniature floats for children. Among the masks of excellence from Acesi Cola Tadazza, Quadaredda e Chubby.
Recurrence: Annual
Date: Approximately 40 days before Easter (winter version)
Month of August (summer version)
Occasion: Carnival preparatory to the penitential period of the Ashes
Function: Propitiatory
Actors: Carnival masks
Participants: Local community, tourists
Description
The Acese Carnival, recognized since 1948 as “the most beautiful in Sicily”, still retains that richness and variety of subjects and events added over time. Today's event is divided into 10 days with a succession of numerous parades, concerts and events involving a large crowd. The allegorical floats that parade through the streets of the city can reach 15 meters in length and 13 in height. The movements of the masks, as well as the scenic and light effects, are managed by computers. Several themes are proposed annually in a satirical key to unleash a smile. To these are associated the floats adorned with flowers that with floral and vegetable elements, colors and scents amaze the cheering crowd. The event has an enormous success and attractive power, attracting numerous tourists to Acireale. For this reason it is re-proposed in the summer version, in which giants in papier-mâché and flowered floats are rearranged to cheer the large crowd that animates the city streets.
 
REFERENCES
FIDIPA. 2005. Travel notes: folklore, history and religiosity in Sicily. Syracuse: Emanuele Romeo Publisher.
Sitography
 
 
 
Footnotes
The floats and masks that take part in the parade are made of papier-mâché. The art of papier-mâché has its origins in the first century BC in the Asian air as a technique for reusing paper, considered a very precious material. Born as a statuary art of the poor, this technique in Sicily has been largely refined and used to create allegorical floats on the occasion of processional rites, achieving high quality results.
In addition to the traditional parades of allegorical floats, masks and dancing figures, folk games have been organized over time. Among the most renowned 'ntina, a tree of our own greasy, the handful nta maidda, where players with their hands tied have to eat from a maida filled with macaroni with sauce and touches of meat; u tavulazzu, the sack race and other games.
Card Author: Ester Oddo

 

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