Maiorchino Festival and Tournament

A game that has been rolling since the 1600s

The Maiorchino Festival and Tournament is one of the most iconic traditions of Novara di Sicilia, a small village in the Nebrodi mountains in the province of Messina, officially listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy. The tournament has its roots in the early 17th century: legend has it that the game began when, during the construction of some local buildings, workers started rolling newly produced cheese wheels down the road from Via Duomo to Piano Don Michele for fun.

How the Maiorchino is played

The heart of the event is a throwing competition that is as simple as it is spectacular. Teams of two or three players roll a wheel of maiorchino—a hard-paste pecorino made from raw sheep's milk with a touch of goat's milk, weighing between 10 and 18 kg—down the steep vicoli (alleys) of the historic center. To provide the necessary thrust, they use the lazzàda, a sturdy string over a meter long wrapped around the cheese. The team that reaches the finish line, known as 'a sarva, with the fewest throws wins.

• Course: From Via Duomo, through the ancient vaelle (alleys) of the village, to the wall at Piano Don Michele, covering about two kilometers.
• Rules: It is forbidden to take a running start before the throw; if the cheese wheel breaks, it is replaced.
• Participants: Numerous local teams compete in an elimination tournament that lasts for several weeks.

Carnival of cheese and Nebrodi flavors

The matches take place every weekend during the Carnival season, starting in the afternoon, turning the village streets into an open-air theater filled with cheering, skill, and plenty of luck. A sheepfold is set up along the route, where shepherds demonstrate the production of ricotta and cheese, while the aroma of traditional dishes fills the air throughout the day.

The festival and the final maccheronata

The tournament culminates in the grand Maiorchino Festival: the traditional maccheronata is served in the square—pasta topped with pork sauce and generous amounts of grated maiorchino, accompanied by bread, local wine, and tastings of ricotta and tuma. It is a convivial moment that brings together the entire community and the many visitors who arrive to watch the races.

UNESCO-recognized intangible heritage

In 2023, the Ministry of Culture inscribed the Maiorchino game into the register of UNESCO best practices for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, alongside other traditional Italian games. This recognition honors the work of the Circolo Sportivo Olimpia "Il Maiorchino" and the entire community of Novara di Sicilia in preserving and passing down this unique ritual, a true symbol of the village's identity.