Dance of the Cordella by Petralia Sottana

Na vote from here and na vote from there, and the curdedda 'ntricciari if it does…
With these words the Ballo della Cordella begins in Petralia Sottana: the dance starts which from the earth, through the body and movement of the dancers, weaves the four seasons with the rope and brings back to life, every year, the most ancient peasant traditions of the Sicily.

Like a spinning carousel, the dance, in a whirlwind of music and entertainment, represents the passage of time, marked by the activities of work in the fields: ploughing, sowing, germination and harvesting are represented by the dancing figures, with intertwined ribbons.

Propitiatory rite performed by peasants over time ancient and addressed to the goddess Ceres, today the Ballo della Cordella is part of the most heartfelt popular traditions and has been staged every year since 1936 by the dancers of the town who, in pairs, dance holding the colored ribbons tied to the pole.

Tradition has it that the Dance of the Cordella precede the passage of a Wedding Procession with the bride and groom and their guests in traditional clothes, accompanied by horses caparisoned especially for the occasion. The party in honor of the newlyweds continues in a sports field, transformed into a farmyard for the occasion.

A true historical re-enactment, which delivers an ancient treasure of Sicilian culture to the new generations and tourists who are in Petralia Sottana.

Capurali and Dancers

The protagonists of the Ballo della Cordella in Petralia Sottana are the dancers, led by the capurali, the group leader who with his words marks the times of the dance. The music that drives the whole show is the tarantella, played live by the village band.

There are 24 dancers, divided into 12 couples: the men wear traditional clothes with a vest, white shirt, calf-length trousers and high socks, while the women wear the traditional dress consisting of a white shirt, corset and wide long skirt. The dresses, in different colors, create small colorful swirls with every movement, intensifying the effect of the weave created with the colored ribbons.

Each dancer holds a colored ribbon in his hand and all the ribbons lead to the high wooden pole, positioned in the center of the circle formed by the dancers. In the first round of dance, the dancers intertwine the ribbons, which are then untangled in the next round, in the opposite direction. In this way, figures are created that represent the four seasons and the stages of working the land in the ancient peasant tradition. The last figure, that of the collection, creates the shape of an umbrella, under which the Wedding Procession passes.

The Wedding Procession

In Petralia Sottana the Ballo della Cordella precedes the passage of the Wedding Procession, because traditionally, after the harvest, the last phase of work in the fields, weddings could finally be celebrated; and then, here comes the bride and groom, with their family and friends, who parade in procession passing under an umbrella of colored ribbons.
The bride wears a precious dress: gray and elegant, however, it is illuminated by a myriad of eighteenth-century embroideries.

In her hand she holds the Rosary and the distaff, which symbolize her dedication to her husband and to work. Even the companion wears period clothes and together with family and friends, the bride and groom continue in the procession heading to the upper part of the town. At the procession you can also admire the beautiful horses that accompany the bride and groom, decked out in period vestments.

Where the Ballo della Cordella takes place in Petralia Sottana

In Petralia Sottana the Ballo della Cordella takes place at the College of Mary and from here the wedding procession starts and then heads towards the upper part of the town, crossing Corso Agliata and reaching the Mother Church of Maria SS. Assumed. Before the festivities end, all the participants turn towards Monte Alto, where the Sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Alto, addressing the Virgin a prayer of thanksgiving, for the abundance granted in the harvest.

In the village, tourists who arrive to attend the Ballo della Cordella can also find other attractions to pleasantly spend a stay to remember in Petralia Sottana: of course, in addition to the Mother ChurchIndeed, there are other sacred buildings, such as the Church of San Francesco d'Assisi and the Church of the Holy Trinity.

Among the civil buildings, the hydroelectric plant not far from the town is a classic example of industrial architecture, while at the Antonio Collisani Civic Museum you can find the sections dedicated to minerals and archeology, where even children can become passionate about discovering local history and geology.

Palazzo del Giglio, the current seat of the Town Hall of Petralia, is another of the architectural beauties to visit in the town, built in the XNUMXth century and facing a beautiful fountain.

How to get to Petralia Sottana

Petralia Sottana is about 107 km from Palermo and is located halfway between the capital and the Strait of Messina. Tourists who want to get to the town to attend the Ballo della Cordella can do so either by car or by train.

By car, take the A19 Palermo-Catania and take the exit for Irosa, 10 km from the centre, or the A20 Messina-Buonfornello and exit at Castelbuono-Pollina 22 km from Petralia.

The town is connected by bus and shuttle to Cefalù Station, about 25 km away: travelers who prefer the train can therefore get off at the station and easily reach Petralia Sottana.

A wedding invitation

Discovering the most ancient and rooted traditions in the culture of the island will be a real pleasure that will brighten your stay in Sicily, therefore on the first Sunday following August XNUMXth, you are all invited to Petralia Sottana for the Ballo della Cordella, which will be followed by the procession Wedding: after the event, you can enjoy the best dishes of the Petralese tradition, from Madonite cheeses to cured meats, from fish couscous to stuffed chicken, to be tasted in the best restaurants in the village.

Do not miss it!