Antillo Carnival

The 2025 edition of the Antillo Carnival, in the province of Messina, confirmed the vitality of one of the most unique folk traditions in Sicily: that of the Picuraru mask. As documented by the local press in March 2025, the groups of masked figures—wearing the white cloth mask, the traditional headgear, goat-skin leggings, and cowbells on their belts—animated the village streets with their ritual exchanges involving cheese and knife sharpening.

As per tradition, the festivities concluded in the square with contradanza and tarantella dances, accompanied by the sound of bagpipes, symbolizing the triumph of Good over chaos and the return to daily life.