| Abstract |
Giuseppe L. Bonanno, La festa in Sicilia secondo i Cappuccini: Lu Signuri tri di maju a Castelvetrano
The feast in Sicily according to the capuchins: Lu Signuri tri di maju in Castelvetrano
The essay, with its historical and ethno-anthropological references, highlights the folk tradition of the “feast of 3rd May” in Castelvetrano and its religious aims. The feast, as in many other parts of Sicily, combines the general event with traditions and holy episodes related to each individual place.
The feast-procession, based on the “Recovery of the Cross”, was adopted by the Capuchin Friars since their arrival in Sicily. In particular, in Castelvetrano, also thanks to the will of the Princes of the city (the Tagliavia-Aragona Family, then also Pignatelli), it represents one of the oldest devotion feasts of the Franciscan tradition and refers directly to the wooden crucifix that the friar Pietro from Mazara brought along to Africa and back again on his return trip to Sicily; during this journey, on the verge of death, Pietro asked the captain of the ship he was travelling on to hand his body and the Crucifix over to the Capuchin monastery nearest to the landing point in Sicily.
In Modern and Contemporary Age, still under the care of the Capuchin Friars, the feast-procession we want to honour and remember in this article, perhaps the most ancient and longest lasting local tradition, is carried out regularly, although the tradition is gradually weakening.
Key words: Castelvetrano, Capuchins, Aragona Pignatelli, Recovery of the Cross, Processions, Franciscanism, Crucifix.
Giuseppe L. Bonanno già docente di Filosofia e Storia nei Licei, è ora etnolinguista-antropologo nell’Assessorato regionale dei BB. CC.; si occupa, in particolare, di storia di Selinunte e di Castelvetrano.