Prizzi | Sunday 21 April 2019
The dance of the devils
Prizzi Old Town
A Prizzi, charming village of just over five thousand inhabitants in the province of Palermo, Easter Sunday is staged the Dance of the Devils (Navigation Devils). Like the Easter celebrations throughout the Dance of the Devils Island enacts the eternal struggle between good and evil, with the devil who tries to hinder the classic encounter between the Virgin Mary and Jesus Resurrected.
Of medieval origins presumable, the show evident traces of pagan celebrations focused on the triumph of life and rebirth of vegetation in early spring.
Since Easter morning of devils dressed in red and death, dressed in the typical yellow ocher, They prowl the streets of the country, making jokes and retaining the passers, which they are released only in exchange for a donation (money or sweets).
The highlight of the event takes place in the afternoon, when the devils trying to prevent the meeting, in the main town square, between the statues of Christ and the Madonna. For they oppose the angels accompanying statues: It is this contrast, carried out according to precise rhythmic movements, It is called the dance of the devils. Once the Devils defeated, the risen Christ and the Madonna can finally meet and Good triumphs over Evil.
