SICILIAN CULTURE: LIFE IN THE OLD COUNTRY
LIFE IN THE OLD COUNTRY
An island just off the coast of the Italian peninsula, Sicily stands apart not just geographically but culturally from the mainland. Its position in the Mediterranean Sea makes it a convenient port and vulnerable to invasion, leaving it susceptible to military conquests and an ideal location for resettlement. Early Greek, Albanian, and North African Arab settlers brought cultures with them that have had a lasting influence. The island resisted integration into the Kingdom of Italy until 1861, existing until then under Byzantine, Norman, and Spanish rule, alternating with periods of independent governance. Sicily avoidance of Italian rule resulted in a unique cultural and national identity. It is not uncommon for inhabitants to identify as Sicilian and to reject Italian nationality and heritage.
Some of this conservatism can be attributed to Sicily’s unique relationship to Catholicism. Approximately 98% of Italy identifies as Christian either culturally or spiritually, but Sicily is home to the only two Greek Orthodox dioceses in the entire country. The Italo-Albanian Rite in Sicily distinguishes itself from the Roman Catholic Rite, which the majority of the country abides by, in being more conservative and rooting its practices in Greek rather than Latin.
A shrine to the Virgin Mary
Sicilians’ heritage can be traced back to immigrants from Albania, Greece, and North Africa. A WORLD APART
These distinctions from the rest of Italy manifest in specifically Sicilian style, language, and ways of living. A dominant force in Italian culture is the concept of the bella figura, which refers to the importance of appearance and first impressions as a reasonable measure for judgment of one’s character. That is, the way you dress affects how people think about you and treat you. Sicilian dress is distinguished from other regions in Italy by its embellished simplicity. While silhouettes and fabrics may be rooted in folk traditions, they are often enhanced with lace, jewelry, and ribbons to connote class. Sicilians speak their own language, considered by some to be a dialect of Italian, called Siciliano, marked by its Greek, Arabic, and French influences. (Hear the differences for yourself HERE!) Cuisine on the island includes notably more seafood and less dairy and meat than traditional dishes in Northern Italy. Additionally, cultural norms and structures are more conservative than those of their fellow Italian citizens in the north.
HEIGHT OF POWER
Many of the social structures of Sicily can be traced to its deeply- rooted religious beliefs. Sicily’s pious culture and proximity to the Holy See, the headquarters of the Catholic church, reinforce an undercurrent of Catholic doctrine in society. Hierarchies of authority, with the church permanently affixed to the peak, are not questioned. Echoing Catholic beliefs, Sicilian
8 ROUNDABOUT THEATRE COMPANY
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