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Sicilian Genealogy, History & Traditions

Genealogy, history and traditions

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Research Guides

Practical help for your family research.

Town of Origin

Find the Sicilian town where your ancestors came from.

Civil Records

Understand Sicilian birth, marriage and death records.

Parish Records

Explore baptism, marriage and burial records in Sicily.

Emigration Records

Use emigration records to trace your Sicilian ancestors.

Historical Place Names

Understand historical place names found in family records.

Read Marriage Records

Learn to read names and relationships in marriage records.

Genealogy Glossary →

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Old Stories of Sicily

Stories, traditions and folklore of Sicily.

Deathbed Customs in Traditional Sicily
Giuseppe Sorbello • August 3
As an illness worsened, relatives decorated the house with religious objects and gathered around the dying person in prayer and support.
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Preparing the Dead in Traditional Sicily
Giuseppe Sorbello • July 18
The body was blessed by the attending priest, then washed and dressed in the finest clothing available, sometimes with valuable personal accessories.
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Sicilian Funeral Talismans, Spells and Omens
Giuseppe Sorbello • June 21
Coins, talismans, locks of hair, pieces of clothing, and even grave earth could play a role in traditional Sicilian funeral beliefs.
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Children’s Funerals in Traditional Sicily
Giuseppe Sorbello • May 4
Children who died were traditionally dressed in white garments with a red ribbon at the waist, while wax candles were lit around the body.
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Sicilian Beliefs About the Soul After Death
Giuseppe Sorbello • April 10
Traditional belief held that, at death, the soul left the body and began its journey toward Heaven or Hell.
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