Notti disiata – Verses, Sounds and Songs of the Sicilian Christmas

A journey into the folk Christmas of the Peloritani

Notti disiata is one of the most beloved and deeply rooted Christmas events in Messina. For over two decades, on St. Stephen's Day (December 26th), the church of Santa Caterina Vergine e Martire, located along the central Via Garibaldi in Messina, has hosted a concert that bridges the gap between the cultured and folk musical traditions of the Sicilian Christmas. The full title of the festival, "Verses, sounds and songs of Christmas in the cultured and folk tradition", perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the evening.

The bagpipes of the Peloritani ciaramiddari

The beating heart of the concert is the ancient pastoral sound linked to the tradition of the novena. The Peloritani ciaramiddari play the "a paro" bagpipe, a symbol of the Mediterranean Christmas, bringing back to life melodies that for centuries accompanied the days leading up to the Nativity in the villages of the Peloritani mountains. It is an intangible heritage that the concert helps to safeguard and pass on to new generations.

Between sacred song, novenas and begging songs

Alongside the bagpipes, the program alternates moments of classical music — solo voices, organ, chamber ensembles, and quartets — with traditional Sicilian begging songs and novenas, often performed by groups specializing in the island's ethnomusicological repertoire. The listening guide, entrusted over the years to ethnomusicologist Mario Sarica, leads the audience through the historical and cultural interpretation of the pieces performed.

Organizers

The event is promoted by the Kíklos Cultural Association and the Museum of Popular Culture and Music of the Peloritani, organizations committed to the protection and promotion of Sicilian musical heritage, with the patronage of the Municipality of Messina and the collaboration of local musical institutions such as the Messina Chamber Orchestra.

A defining event for Messina

More than just a concert, Notti disiata is a collective ritual that restores to the city and the entire province of Messina, in Sicily, the deepest meaning of the folk Christmas: one made of shepherds, bagpipes, dialect poetry, and devotion. For visitors, it is a unique opportunity to discover a living and authentic tradition of Southern Italy in a fascinating baroque setting.