European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 2, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Though a cold evening rain fell during this Aci Reale Parade in 1988, Hardy people lined the streets to watch the floats and bands pass. By. King Cruger Mediterranean Bureau the pre lenten Blowout in Aci Reale is famed As Sicily s most Beautiful carnival. The Island City s week Long celebrations Are an amalgam of Pasadena s Rose bowl Parade and the Street life of Mardi gras in new Orleans. Some 250,000 merry makers Are expected to flock to Aci Reale just North of Catania on Sicily s East coast to participate in the feb. 2-7 festivities. While overindulgence in alcohol plays a Central role in pre lenten bashes in much of the world italian carnival celebrations Are noted for their extreme sobriety. Italians seem to be Able to get High on the festival itself consequently an italian carnival Celebration May be attended by the whole family without fear of unpleasant incidents. Parades featuring enormous Flower bedecked floats Are the chief draw of Arci Reale s carnival Sicily s largest. This year As Many As 60 floats some of them 80 feet Long Are expected to take part in parades to be held on thursday saturday and tuesday All starting at about 6 30 on sunday starting at 5 . Sunday s Parade will be the biggest of the Bunch. Visitors should be prepared to be pelted with confetti. In bygone Days confetti symbolized Good Fortune for the rest of the year. The throwing of confetti is meant to Confer abundance on both the Pelter and the pelted. So much confetti gets tossed in Aci Reale population 20,000, that it takes sweepers Days after the carnival ends to rid the City of the stuff. The carnival Celebration will end with a sky shattering fireworks display starting sometime after 10 . Tuesday. A tip for visitors because finding a parking place can be such a Bear in Aci Reale it is easier to leave the car behind and to join rolling parties aboard special carnival trains running to the town from either Messina or Catania. Is photos by l. Emmett Lewis or. One Clown helps another get bits of confetti from her hair. February2, 1989 stripes Magazine
