The legend of the witches of Spartivento
Thesupermat - CC3.0
It is said that witches once lived in Novara di Sicilia.
The legend of the witches of Spartivento, also known as the legend of the Spartivento walnut, narrates that in the place where the cathedral stands today, there was once a large walnut tree, the Noce di Spartivento. Above this large tree, every evening, the witches of Novara di Sicilia met for their meetings and to dine together.
A rather unusual detail is that the witches climbed onto the walnut tree on the back of a flying pig. It is said that at the stroke of midnight, each witch would recite the following nursery rhyme in her own home: Ventu, forti ventu, portami supra a nuggià di Spartiventu, which can be translated as Vento, strong wind, take me above the Spartiventu Walnut. Once the magic formula was recited, the window of the house opened wide and a flying pig made its entrance, ready to accompany the witch up the tree.
It happened, however, that one night, during a dinner, one of the witches dared to ask for salt, the the use of which was absolutely forbidden to witches. It was then that a violent windstorm broke out and hit the walnut tree and hurled the witches to the four corners of the world.
It is said that, following this episode, the walnut tree was knocked down and that the Cathedral of Novara di Sicilia was built in that same place. It is said that the wood of the Walnut tree was used to build the doors, wardrobes and choir stalls.
The legend of the Walnut of Spartivento is still alive in popular traditions and the fact that in the coat of arms of the Municipality of Novara of Sicily appears a walnut tree.
It is believed that the legend comes from ancient pagan rites which involved hanging a goat skin from a walnut tree.
