Luciese Historical Carnival – U Catalettu

One of Sicily's most unique Carnival celebrations

The Luciese Historical Carnival, known to all as «U Catalettu», is a deeply rooted folk event in Santa Lucia del Mela, a small village in the province of Messina, Sicily. Every year during the Carnival season, the town's historic center transforms into a large open-air stage where tradition, popular satire, and conviviality merge into an ancient and unmistakable ritual.

Origins and meaning of the rite

The roots of the festival go back centuries: the first documentary evidence of the Luciese Carnival dates back to around 1580, when rites linked to the end of the carnival period and the beginning of Lent were already being celebrated. After a long period of decline during the 20th century, the tradition was rediscovered and revitalized in 2013 thanks to the efforts of local cultural associations. In 2015, the Luciese Historical Carnival was inscribed in the Register of Intangible Heritage of Sicily, a recognition that confirms its cultural and identity value.

The heart of the event is the symbolic death of Carnival, personified by the Cannaluvari mask. According to the ritual, Carnival is publicly tried in the square for the sin of gluttony: sentenced, he dies choking on a ricotta fraviola, the quintessential local pastry. His body is then placed on «u catalettu», the ancient stretcher once used to transport the sick and dying, and accompanied in a funeral procession to the final pyre.

The Lapi and the parade

Among the most spectacular elements of the festival are «i Lapi i Cannaluvari»: the three-wheeled Ape vehicles (known in dialect as «lapi») decorated and transformed into small floats, which parade through the village streets filled with color, masks, and satirical messages. The competition for the «most beautiful lapa» involves groups, families, and associations in a spirit of healthy competition and popular creativity.

The funeral procession is accompanied by prefiche (professional mourners), the traditional «cianci morto», who weep and sing the praises of the deceased Carnival, while a funeral band plays grotesque marches. The ritual concludes with the burning of the effigy in the main square, marking the end of the revelry and the beginning of the time of penance.

The Maccheroni and Pastry Festival

No Sicilian festival is complete without its gastronomic dimension. During the Luciese Carnival, the Maccheroni and Carnival Pastry Festival takes place: pasta with sauce, sausage, sandwiches, and wine accompany visitors, while typical sweets — chiacchiere, pignolata, and especially the ricotta fraviole — complete the experience with the authentic flavors of the Luciese tradition.

A defining local event

More than just a party, «U Catalettu» is a moment of strong cohesion for the community of Santa Lucia del Mela and a draw for visitors from neighboring towns in the province of Messina. Combining re-enactment, satire, music, and gastronomy, the Luciese Historical Carnival represents one of the most authentic and well-preserved Carnival rites in Sicily.