Callivari a Cavaddu

A rural tradition in the heart of the Nebrodi

Callivari a Cavaddu is one of the most heartfelt events of the Carnival in Mistretta, an ancient village in the Nebrodi mountains in the province of Messina, known by its inhabitants by the dialect name of Amastra. The event evokes the community's deep bond with the rural world and beasts of burden, once essential companions for field work and mountain mule tracks.

The parade: from the Santuzza district to the municipal park

The procession kicks off from Largo Santa Sofia, in the heart of the Santuzza district. From there, participants riding mules and donkeys, dressed up for the occasion, bring to life a parade that winds through the town's various districts until it reaches the municipal park. It is a festive snake that brings the historic center of Mistretta to life, amidst masks, colors, and the typical joy of the Amastratino Carnival.

Songs, ditties, and conviviality

What makes Callivari a Cavaddu special is its choral and popular dimension. Along the route, traditional Amastratina folk songs and ditties ring out, sung with enthusiasm by the participants. The parade is also a moment of strong conviviality: between one stop and another, people share traditional rustic dishes, such as boiled potatoes, eggs, and legumes, in a festive and communal atmosphere.

A ritual of identity to be passed down

More than just a parade, Callivari a Cavaddu is a ritual that preserves the memory and identity of Mistretta. The community's stated goal is to pass on to future generations a tradition that tells the story of the village's rural roots. Even when bad weather accompanies the day, the parade continues as planned, a sign of the deep attachment the people of Amastra have to this event.

Part of the Amastratino Carnival calendar

Callivari a Cavaddu is part of the broader Amastratino Carnival program, which marks some of the liveliest weeks of the year in Mistretta with the Children's Party, the masked Senior Party, costume parades through the city streets, and masked groups. In this context, the parade with mules and donkeys represents the most authentic and rural soul of the festival, deeply rooted in the culture of the Nebrodi and the province of Messina, in Sicily.