TRADITIONS: PRAYER: in nineteenth-century Sicily, prayer was a cornerstone of everyday life, deeply enmeshed in popular culture, dialect and a vision of religion steeped in mysticism and superstition. It was not only an act of faith, but a genuine form of protection against adversity, illness and envy. Alongside traditional prayers in Latin, prayers were almost exclusively recited in Sicilian dialect, making the relationship with the sacred intimate and domestic. These prayers were passed down orally through the generations, often from grandmothers to their granddaughters. There were evening prayers, common prayers to protect sleep and the home, prayers of Marian devotion, and prayers to the Helper Saints, invoked for practical needs. In the nineteenth century, the line between official religion and folk magic was a thin one. Benedicaria was a form of Christian ‘saint magic’, involving the use of sacred formulas to heal or protect. These included scongiuri, or protective charms, used for illnesses such as intestinal parasites in children, sunstroke or fear (u scantu). In these cases, prayers were often accompanied by gestures (the sign of the cross or the laying on of hands) and by the use of natural elements such as oil, salt, water or garlic. Prayer also marked farming seasons, invoking the protection of the Lord and the saints over the harvest. Finally, the great moments of communal prayer were the patron saint festivals, when the patron saint was called upon to protect the entire community.

AND CUSTOMS: Elvira wears a splendid ivory white First Communion dress by Lesy Firenze, a historic Italian fashion house founded in Florence by Lisetta Cosi in 1964 and specialising in luxury clothing for girls and babies. The dress is a typical example of fine Florentine tailoring. The tiered skirt consists of several overlapping layers of light organza, while the bodice and sleeves feature delicate floral lace embroidery. The ensemble is completed by a veil and small tulle half-gloves.