Visiting Sicily in November means immersing yourself in one of the island’s most cherished traditions: the Commemoration of the Dead.
More than a simple religious holiday, in Sicily, November 2nd becomes a cultural and family event that combines the memory of ancestors with the sweetness of ancient recipes passed down from generation to generation.
A tradition between memory and celebration
Unlike many other Italian regions, in Sicily the Commemoration of the Dead is experienced with an intimate yet festive tone. Families go to the cemetery to visit their loved ones, bringing flowers, cleaning the graves, and lighting candles. But tradition also dictates that the deceased “visit” the living, bringing them gifts, especially to children.
According to popular custom, on the night between November 1st and 2nd, the “morticieddi” bring sweets and gifts to the little ones, who in the morning find toys and treats on their beds or hidden around the house. This custom transforms the pain of loss into a form of affectionate closeness.
An authentic experience for travelers: flavors, markets, and family stories
For a traveler in Sicily, experiencing the Commemoration of the Dead is an authentic and profound experience. It’s not just a religious holiday, but a moment when the island shows its most human and welcoming side: A journey through flavors, history, and spirituality.
Discovering Sicilian gastronomic traditions, visiting markets bursting with autumn colors, talking with locals who share family stories and childhood memories… All this is part of a journey that nourishes not only the palate, but also the soul.
Typical sweets of the Feast of the Dead
During this period, Sicilian pastry shops fill up with traditional sweets with evocative names:
• Frutta Martorana, colorful almond paste shaped like fruit;
• Totò or tetù, black and white glazed cookies;
• Reginelle, sesame cookies;
• And above all, the Ossa di Morto, hard and aromatic biscuits with an ancient flavor.
Ossa di Morto, also called “morticini”, are traditional Sicilian biscuits prepared specifically to commemorate the dead. Their name comes from their elongated shape and pure white color, reminiscent of human bones—a symbolic way to remember lost loved ones with sweetness and respect.
These biscuits have a unique texture: a white, crumbly, and crunchy top, and a brown, caramelized base, due to their particular baking method.
Here’s the Traditional Sicilian Ossa di Morto recipe
Ingredients (for about 30 cookies)
• 400 g sugar
• 400 g 00 flour
• 100 ml water
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 4-5 ground cloves (or 1 teaspoon ground)
Method
– Prepare the syrup: In a small saucepan, dissolve the sugar and water over low heat until you obtain a slightly thick syrup (do not boil).
– Mix the flour with the cinnamon and cloves in a large bowl.
– Add the syrup to the flour a little at a time, stirring until you obtain a compact, fragrant, and smooth dough.
– Shape the cookies into rolls about 2-3 cm in diameter and cut them into 4-5 cm long pieces.
– Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, well spaced apart, and let them dry at room temperature for 2-3 days. This step is crucial: thanks to the rest, the cookies will “crack” during baking, creating their characteristic cracking effect.
– Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 15-20 minutes. You’ll see the bottoms of the cookies become caramelized and dark, while the tops will remain light and crunchy.
– Let them cool completelybefore enjoying. They keep well in an airtight container.
Photo from the web
