Sicily: Buccheri and the intensity of the 'Passiu Santu'

In the hinterland of Syracuse, the village of Buccheri celebrates the Passion with 'U Passiu Santu', a living performance that this year reaches its 41st edition. The peculiarity of this rite lies in the use of Sicilian dialect: the tragedy of Golgotha is recited in rhyme, giving the tale an epic and popular rhythm at the same time. The silence of the alleys is broken only by the sombre sound of the 'crotola', the wooden instrument that replaces the bells as a sign of mourning, creating an unforgettable soundscape. Community participation is total, making the Passion an event that transcends faith to become identity. After so much austerity, the table celebrates life with the 'cuddura cu l'uovu': a traditional peasant cake modelled in symbolic shapes such as baskets, hearts and doves, where the hard-boiled egg set in rustic shortcrust pastry becomes the visual and spiritual centrepiece of the Easter banquet.