Festa di li Schietti

A unique Easter tradition in Sicily

The Festa di li Schietti is one of the most cherished traditional events in Terrasini, a town on the Tyrrhenian coast in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, Sicily. Dating back to the 19th century, the festival is renewed every year during the Easter period and revolves around a gesture as simple as it is meaningful: the lifting of a bitter orange tree weighing about fifty kilograms.

The protagonists are the schietti, the town's bachelors, who once demonstrated their strength and courage by lifting the tree with one hand under the balcony of the girl they loved. Offering a branch of the plant was equivalent to a formal marriage proposal: for this reason, the festival, in addition to being a test of virility, retains the charm of an ancient courtship ritual.

The bitter orange tree ritual

The tree is carefully selected months in advance by the organizing committee: it must be straight, balanced, and leafy. After the evocative cutting in the citrus groves, the plant is transported to town on a cart, reinforced by a master carpenter, and finally decorated with colorful ribbons and traditional ornaments. The highlight is the tree raising in Piazza Duomo, with the lifting competition that tests the contestants' endurance.

Folklore, gastronomy, and music

A rich program develops around the central ritual: the historic "mangiata" (feast) at Torre Alba, folkloric parades with Sicilian carts, brass bands, and groups in costume that bring the town streets to life, photographic exhibitions at Palazzo d'Aumale, and major evening concerts in Piazza Duomo. Over the years, the festival has hosted big names in Italian music, becoming an event capable of attracting visitors from all over the Province of Palermo and beyond.

When and where

The Festa di li Schietti takes place around Easter, with the main competitions concentrated on the Easter weekend. The heart of the events is Piazza Duomo, in the historic center of Terrasini, with additional activities on the seafront for the fireworks displays. A festival that combines popular tradition, community identity, and spectacle, perfect for those who want to discover the most authentic side of Sicily during the Easter holidays.