Carnival in Bisacquino 2025
The Carnival in Bisacquino has its roots at least at the end of the seventeenth century, so it can be considered by far the oldest Carnival in Sicily.
On the occasion of the Carnival for the streets of the suggestive village are set up for exhibition and tasting stands, the traditional Parade of Allegorical Floats and masked groups takes place, and dancing evenings and musical and entertainment shows are organised.
A first phase of the Bisacquinese Carnival is dominated from dancing in the clubs that overlook the main square of the town. In these parties the main mask is the domino. These are women, dressed in a dark tunic that covers the person up to the feet and equipped with a hood on the head that prevents recognition, who invite the man to dance by guiding him in the various dances. The domino allows for a reversal of roles, the woman passes from the object of the man to an active and dynamic element.
Traditions
The Friday following Shrove Thursday the Venniri Zuppiddu, i.e. Friday of the Zuppiddu, was usually dedicated to the characteristic mask of the Bisacquinese carnival: U Zuppiddu, a peasant figure with knickerbockers, shirt, waistcoat, flat cap and curved stick, holding an egg in one hand and a cricket in the other. According to popular belief, the Venniri Zuppiddu must eat an egg to ward off the fall of the cricket, a term which evidently alludes to virile virtue.
At the conclusion of the Bisacquinese Carnival, on Shrove Tuesday, four men carried around the square, placed on a ladder, a trunk with a ragged straw puppet inside, u Piddu. The death of Piddu represents the death of Carnival, and this is how he, dying, makes his will, revealing, with this expedient, the flaws of village life and of its most prominent men. At the stroke of midnight lu sinnu sounds, announcing that the Carnival is over, and the puppet is burned.
You could be interested in where to stay in Bisacquino
You could be also interested in:
References
enjoysicilia.it is in no way responsible for any errors, omissions or changes due to unpredictable factors. We strongly invite you to check for any last-minute changes by visiting the website and social media of the event organizer whose links are indicated in the references field.
