Old Sicilian Men and Traditional Clothing
Traditional men’s clothing commonly included velvet knee-breeches known as “causi,” buttoned at the sides and hips and fastened at the waist with a green or blue cord. A waistcoat known as the “panzera” was worn over the chest. Men also wore cloth caps, typically brown among farmers and blue among seamen, set at a slight angle on the head. Silk or cotton stockings were paired with leather shoes, often with folded or turned-up toes; these styles were gradually replaced by more conventional footwear.
In 1910, a noblewoman from Lombardy described the clothing and hairstyles of rural men in the Modica area. She referred to the “zazzera” worn by older men and to the “trizza,” a lock of hair at the nape of the neck that was left uncut and uncombed. According to her account, some people regarded the trizza as a special gift, an omen, or even a sacred ornament.
Farmers wore belts to secure their trousers and shirts. At the buckle, some carried a yellow-copper plate engraved with an image of the Virgin Mary or the Crucifix. Rural men also used a protective outer garment known as the “scuppularu,” comparable in function to the cloaks worn by women. Extending from the head toward the legs, it was particularly useful while traveling, providing protection from rain, wind, and cold.
