1. Weddings in Sicily VII ISTITUTO COMPRENSIVO G. A. COSTANZO Siracusa - Italy Project n° 2011-1-RO1-COM06-14665-5 Rediscover the Real European Values

2. 2 1908 Young Sicilian spouses emigrated in USA Scelta della sposa It was the groom’s mother who looked for a good wife. It was necessary that she came from the same country: “Ciciri cu ciciri e favi cu favi”

3. 3 Omu di vintottu, e fimmina di dicidottu Man at twenty-eight, woman at eighteen Women married very young. About the Age of spouses 1928

4. 4 June1930 If the groom’s mother found the girl, at home, embroidering, she surely would be a good wife; otherwise she would be the ruin for her husband. About bride’s virtues

5. 5 The groom’s mother went to the girl’s house, bringing a comb to work the wool, to talk about the bride’s dowry. The request

6. 6 “Figlia in fasce, dote in cassa” Still nowadays in Sicily and in the south of Italy a strong tradition is the bride’s dowry. The dowry

7. 7 1927 “Né di Venniri, né di Marti, nun si spusa, né si parti” It’s better not to marry on Tuesday or Wednesday (from the Greek tradition, inauspicious days for weddings and departures). “Sposa maiulina o augustina non si godi a cuttunina” It’s better not to marry in May or August (from an ancient Roman tradition, because in these months they commemorated the dead). Wedding date

8. 8 Marriage in XIX century Until the end of the “twenties”, they didn’t make photographs the same day of the wedding. The wedding party was at the bride’s house. A week after the ceremony, the newly-weds went to the photographer’s to have some pictures. In the 19th century, in Sicily brides didn’t wear a white dress, but they wore according to the tradition of the place where they lived.

9. 9 1927 Noble marriage A wedding procession left from the bride’s house to the church. At the end of the ceremony, out of the church, the guests threw the newlyweds barley, beans, bread crumbs, salt and wheat. Wedding procession

10. 10 January 1947

11. 11 Orange blossoms came to us from the ancient Arabic tradition. They are the symbol of marriage and symbolize purity and and wishes for fertility. Wedding flowers April 1947

12. Thanks for your attention VII ISTITUTO COMPRENSIVO G. A. COSTANZO Siracusa - Italy Project n° 2011-1-RO1-COM06-14665-5 Rediscover the real European values