Epiphany in Bordonaro - U Pagghiaru

On the day of the Epiphany in Bordonaro, a small village in Messina, an ancient tradition known as U Pagghiaru takes place which consists of building a large tree in the shape of a hut.
It is believed that this tradition dates back to the 11th century and that it originates from some pagan propitiation rites introduced into Sicily by some Basilian Fathers coming from the eastern regions of the Armeria.
It is still customary today, a few days before the Epiphany, to collect the branches necessary for the creation of the Pagghiaru . The pagghiaru, made with a support pole around which a large iron wheel is placed on which tree trunks are anchored, is then decorated with leaves, branches, oranges, lemons, colored cardboard circles and with bread donuts unleavened. On the top is placed the cuciera, a cone covered with branches, citrus fruits, donuts, cured meats and sausage.
On the day of the Epiphany, the Blessing of the Pagghiaru and the Assault on the Pagghiaru take place, a competition during which climbers compete to be the first to reach the top of the large tree. At the end of the competition the paggiaru decorations are distributed to the crowd as a sign of good luck.
The pantomina u cavadduzzu and the omu sabbaggio, that is, of the of the horse and the wild man< /em>, during which a man and a fake horse fight, symbolizing the struggle between Good and Evil. The man wears armor and a helmet with bolts that are detonated during combat. The fight is in fact a traditional dance that is performed to the sound of music. Traditionally, the horse fires the last shot, and therefore wins the fight.