U vastuni di Turi u spertu

The origins of the Sicilian cane remain shrouded in mystery in a range that goes from 1200 to 1600. The cane was used by shepherds both as a support and as a weapon of defense from wolves. Subsequently used during the Spanish domination as an offensive weapon (used in the cumarche, that is in the provinces). Made of wild olive wood (agghiastru in Sicilian) and bitter almond wood (rarely of “minicucco” wood, that is Etna’s bagolaro Celtis australis). The branch is harvested during winter, in the period from December to February, when the tree “sta dummennu” (sicilian for sleeping), in order to avoid flowering; this positively affects the yield. The lunar phase is also important, it is harvested during the waning moon. The treatment of the branch is exclusively natural with olive oil (no synthetic impregnants).

 (photo) Two Sicilians and a donkey, XIX century