The Dance of the Devils in Prizzi 2025, Sicily

U Ballu di Diavuli, or The Dance of the Devils, is a unique Easter Sunday festival held annually in Prizzi. It blends sacred and profane elements and symbolizes the battle between good and evil, culminating in the triumph of good. Participants dressed as red devils with masks parade through the streets, dancing and "searching for souls," accompanied by a yellow figure representing death. The chaos ends when "angels" intervene, subduing the devils and restoring harmony.

Traditional Festivities

The feast begins at 3 pm, when Death and the Devils roam the streets of Prizzi, creating an atmosphere of mischief and tradition. The protagonists of this 1770-origin festival are Death, dressed in yellow with a leather mask and crossbow, and two red-clad Devils, one white and one black, with horned masks and thick hair. Together, they cause playful chaos, targeting townsfolk as "victims." Those who fall for their tricks are taken to a house where they can redeem their souls with a cash offer.

Throughout the day, Death and the Devils harass anyone in their path while working to prevent "u Ncontru," the symbolic meeting of the Madonna and the Risen Christ. In their iconic Dance of the Devils, they jump and run between the statues, succeeding in disrupting the encounter twice. However, on the third attempt, they are defeated by Angels, clearing the way for the Madonna and Christ to meet. At this moment, Madonna sheds her black cape to reveal a light blue dress, and church bells joyously ring across Prizzi. The festival concludes with the Devils’ symbolic surrender, as they bow three times before the statues of the Virgin Mary and the Risen Christ in a ritual called "pigliar’a paci," signifying the triumph of good over evil.

Origins

The event originally began as a pagan celebration marking the arrival of spring. Over time, it evolved to symbolize the battle between the forces of good and evil, incorporating elements of the Christian tradition of Jesus’ Resurrection. A hallmark of the feast is *cannatedde*, a traditional sweet made of shortcrust pastry and a boiled egg.