Sicilian Almonds in Shell

When we were children (the '90s), it was common to witness in almost every courtyard in the town of Pachino, between September and October each year, the ritual of cracking almonds.

In my courtyard lived three gentlemen (born in the 1920s) who would diligently clean the almonds they had gathered.

It was almost a challenge among the three to see who could crack the most almonds with a hammer or "mazzuolo". The ritual began in the afternoon and throughout the courtyard, the continuous sound of the three hammers echoed intermittently.

For many, it was just noise... but believe me, for me it was a sound of tradition to be listened to in complete silence and now remembered with deep emotion!

Gianfranco - Verdurazon.it