New Year's Eve party
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Description
New Year's Eve party
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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
No. Prog.
187
Bene
New Year's Eve party
Book
REIS - Book of Celebrations, Festivals and Ritual Practices
Approval date
22-05-2014
Category
patronal feast
Province
Enna
Location
Common
Troina
Local denomination
San Suvviestu
Chronological News
Pitrè, a well-known Italian writer and anthropologist, in his book “Patronal feasts in Sicily”, tells the historical events of San Silvestro di Troina.
A monk of the Order of San Basilio, Silvestro wore the cenobite habit under Roger the Norman and Roberto, his brother-in-law, first bishop of Troina. Lived between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, the religious became famous for the miracles he bestowed on his city, freeing it more than once from the scourge of the plague. From thaumaturgic powers the legend also tells that, reluctant to be appointed abbot, "hermit retired in a forest surrounding the ancient church of S. Bartolomeo, where, unknown to all he lived, and died he was ignored".
On 1 May 1420, two and a half centuries after the death of the Saint (1164), continues G. Pitrè, two young hunters from Lentin saw a beautiful falcon and decided to chase it for many miles as far as the wood of S. Bartolomeo di Troina. As night fell, the animal was lost from sight. Tired, the hunters settled down in the church of S. Bartolomeo, but were shaken by an exceptional event: a nearby cave was illuminated by a light that radiates all around until it goes out, blending into the darkness of the night. Taken from the dismay by the wonderful vision, the next day, the two went to the nearby city of Troina, telling the population and members of the clergy the extraordinary event they had witnessed. Intrigued, they all went to the place of the miracle and removing the stone that prevented the entrance to the cave, they found inside, still covered by the Basilian robe, the remains of the monk Sylvester. In that same instant the population praised him as patron of the municipality.
According to the Lexicon Topographicum Siculum by Vito Amico, drawn up in 1785, and as reported by G. Pitrè himself, the inhabitants of Troina celebrated the saint twice a year, carrying in procession the simulacrum contained in a silver coffin. However, the main holiday of May 2, for political reasons, was moved to the first Sunday in June, preceded and followed by a cattle fair counted among the "first of its kind in Sicily".
Among the ordinary religious and civil ceremonies, one in particular deserves mention: the traditional ride or cubbaita. The term cubbaita comes from Arabic qubbiat, almond, and still indicates today, a kind of nougat introduced in Sicily by the Arabs, prepared with almonds or sesame seeds (jujube) and honey, usually cut into small diamond shapes and wrapped with paper. This last feature meant that this cake was suitable to be thrown by the knights during the historical ride. According to anthropological studies, it would be precisely from what derives the name of the dessert that is also attributed to the historic ride.
A group of thirty young men, armed with guns on the back of magnificent horses, followed three knights, dressed as paladins and carrying bouquets of flowers to be given to the ladies, all making their way through the crowd gathered in via Conte Ruggero, the culminating center of the country. Once at the other end of the road, the group of armed young people goes away leaving the three knights, who followed by the grooms, stroll through the crowd distributing nougat and sugared almonds to the people who flocked to pick up some sugared almonds.
Already in 1876 G. Pitrè recounts that the population of the neighborhoods gathered on horseback, going to the nearby wood to each collect a laurel branch. Once harvested, they returned to Troina in pairs and, when they reached the church of the Saint, they threw out a twig at the door, returning with the branch in hand, now blessed. Neighborhood poets also stopped in front of the church to celebrate the life of the patron saint.
The feast of New Year's Eve is, among the laurel feasts, the only one in which the duplication of the rite is observed within the same feast. The explanation of the division of the same into two very close and basically analogous moments, is traced back to the ancient distinction between the two classes of iurnatara e massagewho respectively took part in the pilgrimage of the ramara and ddarara. This distinction is based on purely economic reasons, since the less affluent class of iurnatara he had no mount, he also wanted to emphasize the social prestige of the massagecompared to the former.
recurrence
Annual
Data
Pilgrimage and procession of the ramara: from Thursday evening of the penultimate Sunday of May to the penultimate Sunday of May.
Pilgrimage and procession-parade of the ddarara: from Friday of the last Sunday of May until the last Sunday of May.
Procession of the launch: Saturday before the first Sunday of June.
La Cubbaita: the first Sunday of June.
opportunity
Celebrations in honor of the patron saint
Function
Devotional
Actors
Massaro the branches that deal with various organizational aspects, such as finding the necessary funds for the organization of the party; the confraternity that takes part in full only in the procession of the vara, which takes place on the first Sunday in June; the commission of the New Year's Eve party.
Participants
Devotees, local community, tourists
Description
The Festino di San Silvestro is one of the laurel feasts. Characterized by the ritual of pilgrimage, collection and devotional procession, it is precisely through the gesture of collection that the faithful dissolve the vow previously contracted with the patron.
The pilgrimage and the procession are repeated for two successive weeks in slightly different ways. The first pilgrimage, that of ramara (ie bearers of branches), takes place on foot; the second, that of ddarara (bearers of ddauru, laurel), is instead covered on the back of mules and horses.
The pilgrimage and the procession are repeated for two successive weeks in slightly different ways. The first pilgrimage, that of ramara (ie bearers of branches), takes place on foot; the second, that of ddarara (bearers of ddauru, laurel), is instead covered on the back of mules and horses.
Procession and procession of the ramara
Thursday evening i ramara they gather in the square in front of the church of San Silvestro and, greeted by a large crowd, leave for the collection site of the plant dear to the saint, located near the village of San Fratello, several tens of kilometers away from Troina. The long line of faithful, preceded by two drummers from the nearby town of Cerami, proceeds with devout songs, moans e new, while the older ones sing the so-called scuffed.
At the first light of dawn the following day, the pilgrims arrive in a clearing where they set up a base camp. After having rested and refreshed, the most physically gifted, selected following a count, venture with ropes and sticks to the bottom of the valley in search of laurel, accompanied by one of the drummers, who exchanges sound messages with the remaining one. in the field. Once the collection is completed i tuccaturi u ddauru they set out for the field.
At dawn the next day, exactly on Saturday, the pilgrims set off in the direction of Troina, each carrying their own branch in hand and according to the seniority of the participants. Near the bridge feudda,on the Troina river, the population welcomes the faithful returning from the woods with a ritual exchange of gifts: the ramara offer the laurel twigs collected in exchange for votive foods, called prumisions, which consist of a kind of cookies also called embassydie curuzzi.
Sunday morning i ramara are located on the Piano delle Giumente to give life to the procession of branches, punctuated by the ejaculation "Long live Ddiu and San Silvestru, and lu Patriarch San Ciuseppi, and lu Santissimu sacramentu ". Once in the church of San Silvestro i ramara "Present" the trip to the Patron and, once the religious function is over, they accompany the Saint's banner in procession to the house of the Procurator of the brotherhood, called u massaru.
Thursday evening i ramara they gather in the square in front of the church of San Silvestro and, greeted by a large crowd, leave for the collection site of the plant dear to the saint, located near the village of San Fratello, several tens of kilometers away from Troina. The long line of faithful, preceded by two drummers from the nearby town of Cerami, proceeds with devout songs, moans e new, while the older ones sing the so-called scuffed.
At the first light of dawn the following day, the pilgrims arrive in a clearing where they set up a base camp. After having rested and refreshed, the most physically gifted, selected following a count, venture with ropes and sticks to the bottom of the valley in search of laurel, accompanied by one of the drummers, who exchanges sound messages with the remaining one. in the field. Once the collection is completed i tuccaturi u ddauru they set out for the field.
At dawn the next day, exactly on Saturday, the pilgrims set off in the direction of Troina, each carrying their own branch in hand and according to the seniority of the participants. Near the bridge feudda,on the Troina river, the population welcomes the faithful returning from the woods with a ritual exchange of gifts: the ramara offer the laurel twigs collected in exchange for votive foods, called prumisions, which consist of a kind of cookies also called embassydie curuzzi.
Sunday morning i ramara are located on the Piano delle Giumente to give life to the procession of branches, punctuated by the ejaculation "Long live Ddiu and San Silvestru, and lu Patriarch San Ciuseppi, and lu Santissimu sacramentu ". Once in the church of San Silvestro i ramara "Present" the trip to the Patron and, once the religious function is over, they accompany the Saint's banner in procession to the house of the Procurator of the brotherhood, called u massaru.
Pilgrimage and procession -corteo dei ddarara
Similar, in its essential moments, is the pilgrimage of the ddarara, which begins on the Friday following the procession of ramara.
Unlike the former, i ddarara they go on pilgrimage on the back of mules and horses in a wood near the city of Capizzi. Reached the meeting place, a group goes on foot to tuccari u ddauru. Once the laurel has been harvested, we all meet in the field to drink and eat. The group leaves the next day, early Saturday morning, and, in the early afternoon, the riders and their load arrive, like the ramara, near the bridge feudda, on the Troina river, where the population welcomes them with prumisions.
The next day, Sunday, at 10:00, the riders gather at the Piano delle Giumente with their mounts dressed up in celebration with giummi, rattles and bands decorated with the image of the Saint. The procession starts around 10:30 and the procession is arranged in an orderly manner. Characteristic is the presence of a large group of girls with white blouses and red handkerchiefs ddarara, which is arranged in two rows. The introduction of the young girls in the procession is relatively recent.
The processional path is identical to that of the previous Sunday. Once at the church of San Silvestro, greeted by a cheering bell, all the participants in the rite enter the church and complete the path already described, offering the branch to the saint.
Similar, in its essential moments, is the pilgrimage of the ddarara, which begins on the Friday following the procession of ramara.
Unlike the former, i ddarara they go on pilgrimage on the back of mules and horses in a wood near the city of Capizzi. Reached the meeting place, a group goes on foot to tuccari u ddauru. Once the laurel has been harvested, we all meet in the field to drink and eat. The group leaves the next day, early Saturday morning, and, in the early afternoon, the riders and their load arrive, like the ramara, near the bridge feudda, on the Troina river, where the population welcomes them with prumisions.
The next day, Sunday, at 10:00, the riders gather at the Piano delle Giumente with their mounts dressed up in celebration with giummi, rattles and bands decorated with the image of the Saint. The procession starts around 10:30 and the procession is arranged in an orderly manner. Characteristic is the presence of a large group of girls with white blouses and red handkerchiefs ddarara, which is arranged in two rows. The introduction of the young girls in the procession is relatively recent.
The processional path is identical to that of the previous Sunday. Once at the church of San Silvestro, greeted by a cheering bell, all the participants in the rite enter the church and complete the path already described, offering the branch to the saint.
Procession with the relic of the Saint
The procession with the relics of San Silvestro takes place on the Saturday before and the first Sunday in June. Everything starts from the Mother Church to the Church of San Silvestro (the descent). The eighteenth-century vara, carried in procession, is covered with silver foils, while the statue of the patron saint depicts him in the act of blessing.
The procession with the relics of San Silvestro takes place on the Saturday before and the first Sunday in June. Everything starts from the Mother Church to the Church of San Silvestro (the descent). The eighteenth-century vara, carried in procession, is covered with silver foils, while the statue of the patron saint depicts him in the act of blessing.
La cubbaita o Ride
The so-called "cubbaita“, A historical cavalcade that recalls the entry into Troina of Charles V in 1535. The first editions of the event therefore date back to more than four centuries ago.
A group of riders in Spanish costumes lead the procession and precede the three protagonists of the ride: three riders dressed in rich XNUMXth century costumes and on finely harnessed horses. The three characters wear an identical costume, different only in the color of the dress: one is red-garnet, one blue and one green.
Each rider carries with him a saddlebag full of nougats and sweets, which will then be distributed to the crowd of participants.
The Festino ends with the procession of the relic and the statue (the ascent), which follows the reverse path from the Church of San Silvestro to the Mother Church.
The so-called "cubbaita“, A historical cavalcade that recalls the entry into Troina of Charles V in 1535. The first editions of the event therefore date back to more than four centuries ago.
A group of riders in Spanish costumes lead the procession and precede the three protagonists of the ride: three riders dressed in rich XNUMXth century costumes and on finely harnessed horses. The three characters wear an identical costume, different only in the color of the dress: one is red-garnet, one blue and one green.
Each rider carries with him a saddlebag full of nougats and sweets, which will then be distributed to the crowd of participants.
The Festino ends with the procession of the relic and the statue (the ascent), which follows the reverse path from the Church of San Silvestro to the Mother Church.
REFERENCES
Buttitta, Igrazio Emanuele. 2006. Laurel festivals in Sicily. Palermo: Ignazio Buttitta Foundation.
Collira, Matthew. 2008. Unknown Sicily: Unusual and curious itineraries. Milan: Rizzoli ,.
Giansiracusa, Paul. 1999. Troina civitas very old. Troina: Oasis.
Sitography
Filmography
Lu principlesu of li fiesti, by Giuseppe Calabrese, 83 ′, 2014
Discography
Footnotes
A legend tells that the simulacrum of the saint was commissioned to a religious artist from Venice, who, having completed the work, found it undone several times until he asked the saint to inspire his features. Appeared in a dream San Silvestro, he recommended to look at him carefully to portray him faithfully.
In the church of San Silvestro, in a small crypt-shaped chapel, there is the tomb of the saint covered with a white alabaster slab carved in full relief. The work is attributed to the school of Gagini (1420-1492) and portrays San Silvestro with thumbs and feet tied as per monastic custom.
In the church of San Silvestro, in a small crypt-shaped chapel, there is the tomb of the saint covered with a white alabaster slab carved in full relief. The work is attributed to the school of Gagini (1420-1492) and portrays San Silvestro with thumbs and feet tied as per monastic custom.
The branches carried in procession on the penultimate Sunday of May are made up of wooden poles of different lengths, from five to six meters, covered with laurel leaves from which are hung the images of the Saint, colored bows, ribbons, bunches of wildflowers and dolls. The latter decorative element is justified by the ramara purely for aesthetic reasons, even if the doll is a decorative element that also recurs in other ritual contexts.
Author Card
Frances Maria Riccobene
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