volcano Archives

Five ideas for starting New Year on Mt Etna

Posted on 06/01/2025 (23/02/2025) by Grazia Musumeci

After having given the usual resounding welcome to the new year, we find ourselves in the first week of January already planning the near future. Whether you are a permanent resident or a tourist, when you have the privilege of living at the foot of a volcano like Etna all your choices will also revolve […]

Rituals for Good Luck: from burning branches to fireworks

Posted on 30/12/2024 (23/02/2025) by Grazia Musumeci

In a short time, the first hour of the New Year will strike, with the twelve strokes of midnight, and everyone – wherever we are, whatever our beliefs – will celebrate this event with lights, torches, fires and “firecrackers”. There’s no point in pretending… fire is fascinating. And it has always fascinated precisely because of […]

Volcanoes and mandarins: the Holy Cribs of Etna

Posted on 23/12/2024 (23/02/2025) by Grazia Musumeci

The making of nativity scene (Holy Crib) is a very ancient tradition in Sicily. One of the classic traditions that has remained most alive, ever, even resisting the “invasion” of Santa Claus and the famous Christmas tree. Once upon a time, for Sicilians, the Holy Crib was the center of the Christmas celebration – as […]

Fire celebration on Etna: St Barbara

Posted on 02/12/2024 (23/02/2025) by Grazia Musumeci

The feast of St. Barbara is important for the Etna territory because it is linked to fire, as is the memory of another saint (connected to light) Lucia. And although the patron saint of the Catania territory, and therefore also of the volcano, is actually St Agatha, St Barbara is addressed when asking for protection […]

Etna: autumn things you can do in nature

Posted on 25/11/2024 (23/02/2025) by Grazia Musumeci

When Etna autumn enters its peak season – usually at the end of October – all the beauty of this fiery mountain explodes, even in terms of colors and scents and flavors. Autumn on Etna means rediscovering those ancient peasant and artisan traditions that allow you to create masterpieces – of taste, as well. This […]