Sicilian Life Style
Colonised for centuries, Sicilians have absorbed and subsumed a myriad uniquely blended traits. So much so that writer Gesualdo Bufalino believed Sicilians suffered from an “excess of identity”, the core of which was the conviction that Sicilian culture stands at the centre of the world.
As a visitor this can be terribly exclusive, and there is still an awful lot of Sicily that is beyond the prying eyes of the tourist. To have friends in such a situation is not merely a pleasure but a practical consideration. Like Arab society, who you know makes a difference and any invitation to a Sicilian home should be viewed as a real compliment.
The family remains of central importance in Sicilian society. Young Sicilians tend to stay at home until they marry, a situation exacerbated by the lack of affordable housing. This dependence on family has its negative side, diminishing self-reliance and removing the need to acquire suitable professional skills.
At the centre of the family is la madre, the mother. She is considered second only to the Virgin Mary, who many jokingly believe must have been an islander; after all, the son she adored lived with her until he was 30 and when he was killed by the authorities she maintained an air or dignifies composure as she mourner!
It is difficult to make blanket assertions about Sicilian culture, if only because there are huge differences between the more modern-minded city dwellers and those from the traditionally conservative countryside.
Still, modern attitudes have begun to erode conservative traditions. In the larger university cities such as Palermo, Catania, Syracuse and Messina you will find a vibrant youth culture and most middle-class families enjoy a liberal lifestyle. Improvements in educational opportunities and changing attitudes also mean that a high proportion of women now have successful careers, although keeping up appearances remains vital to respectable family life.
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