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A Sicilian Daydream

Casa
Italia
Palermo
A Sicilian Daydream

I try to explain Sicily and Sicilians. A journey into our traditions and folklore.

14/12/2025

In Sicily Santa Lucia is celebrated across the entire island, with Siracusa honoring her as its patron saint.
In Palermo the tradition includes avoiding bread and pasta and enjoying arancine and sweet cuccìa, in memory of the historic arrival of grain by sea.

But the truth? We celebrate this day in the name of a Saint whose name comes from the Latin word “lux,” meaning light.
In the Middle Ages, under the old Julian calendar, December 13 was considered the darkest day of the year, close to the winter solstice.

For this reason, Saint Lucy became a symbol of light returning in the darkness, bringing hope and brightness during the darkest time of the year.

👉 Palermitani, how many arancine did you eat?! 🙈

(*** What day is *IT today?
+ I clearly meant “What if I didn’t make it to the *13th* …I think I’ve been living in the UK too long and I start forgetting things 😂🙈)

01/11/2025

“U cannistru” is a traditional Sicilian basket prepared for the Day of the Dead, which we celebrate on 2nd November.

Unfortunately I haven’t had the time and the peace of mind to prepare one this year 🥲💔

It’s filled with seasonal sweets like frutta martorana - the one you see on the dish! - beautiful marzipan pastries that look like real fruit!

According to tradition, we tell the children that their departed loved ones brought them these treats as a gesture of love and remembrance. 🍐✨🍊

29/10/2025

Palermo is not always sunny and bright, she can also be dark and mysterious if you know where to look for.

Here a selection of the spookiest places of the city 👻

👉Would you add any others?!

25/10/2025

You can never imagine where the legend of the Moorish heads might have originated!

And the author of the story wasn’t even Sicilian!

I actually like this version even better!

👉What about you?!

23/10/2025

Ignazio Buttitta, a poet almost forgotten by Sicilians.
Yet his verses still carry the voice of a people,
and the power of language, memory, and justice.

20/10/2025

Have you ever wondered why Sicily has these ceramic heads of a man and a woman literally everywhere?!

Well, those are called “Moorish Heads” and they have a legend behind them!

14/10/2025

Always split in half.
I’ve thought about it so many times, and of course, I still do. About going back.

But meanwhile, time passes here, and everything slowly loosens its grip.
You gain independence, find an apparent (and probably temporary) peace.
You don’t have to fight for anything, you don’t have to make anyone accept you.

Of course, settling in a city like London isn’t easy, but if you make the right choices and play your cards well, maybe it’s not that complicated after all.

And yet, I always find myself in a sort of limbo, between existing here and the memories of the past.
As if one part of me were pulling in the opposite direction, but I’m inevitably stuck in the middle.

Not many people know this, but in 2018 it wasn’t London where I first started collecting experiences, figuring out who I was (just a little bit), and realizing that maybe I’m not as bad as I used to think.

Cold and sweet Scotland welcomed me to Edinburgh in 2018 and taught me so much until mid-2022.
Then, in the summer of 2022, I took my first steps as an ESL teacher in Bournemouth, traveling all around England. One of those summers I’ll never forget.

I had found a job in Palermo, or rather, nearby, but maybe we just don’t understand each other anymore, me and the Palermitans.

So I came back up, and this November marks three years (time really flies, huh?) since I’ve been leaving and teaching here in London.

But Palermo and Sicily never really leave me.

PS. Thank to who inspired me with this post!!
And for taking all these pictures in these years !! 📸

20/09/2025

Today is the anniversary of Rosa Balistreri’s passing.
An inspiration for Sicilians and especially Sicilian women!

02/09/2025

How was your August?

Mine?

They say August is the coldest month of the year.

NB. Minor grammar mistakes.

27/08/2025

Slow life, slow life.
I know this might sound like a cliché post, but the first place that comes to mind when thinking about a slow-paced life is Cefalù.

When you’re far from home (my birthplace), I always think of places like this to remember how magical Sicily can be. Small houses, the beach, nature all around… but tourists everywhere.

As a matter of fact, Cefalù has become almost inaccessible for locals who’d like to buy properties there. People started talking to me in English the last time I was walking on its streets 🙈

It always looks so crystallized, romanticized, beautiful yes, but far from being accessible!
I also feel a bit guilty for posting about it so many times, but it’s one of those places where I go to relax and enjoy the landscape, the beach, art, and history.

👉💬What do you think about places like Cefalù? Have you been there?

Indirizzo

Palermo

Sito Web

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