SICILIAN PROVERBS

Proverbi Siciliani / Sicilian Proverbs

This is a collection of more than a thousand Sicilian proverbs selected, translated and explained by Arthur V. Dieli. The book contains original drawings by Carlo Puleo, a Sicilian artist. The proverbs are arranged alphabetically by key words. The proverbs are in Sicilian, the first Italic language of Italy.

The cover art is the work of the noted Sicilian artist Carlo Puleo.

Read some of the Sicilian Proverbs.

Order the book from Amazon, and Arba Sicula.

A Happy Heart and One Slice of Bread / Cori cuntenti e 'na fedda di pani.

Sicilian proverbs are a pathway into the reality of Sicilian culture over the centuries. They are the voices of its people that ring true from generation to generation. The proverbs are an important sub-text of their conversation. Every segment of society is represented by the truth of the proverbs. The majority of the Sicilian proverbs in this collection were recorded by Giuseppe Pitrè (1841-1916) in four volumes of his twenty-five volume library of Sicilian folklore. The eBook is currently available from Friesen Press, iTunes Bookstore, and Google Play. It is also available from Amazon in a Kindle edition.

The Children of Aeolus

The short stories in this volume draw on Puleo's many experiences and especially on his particular artistic viewpoint. Carlo Puleo was a personal friend of Ignazio Buttitta for many years and he has drawn on that experience to show us a personal side of the renowned Sicilian poet.

The book is currently available online from Amazon, and Arba Sicula, and in a Kindle edition.

Sicilian Proverbs Volume I.

Volume I of Sicilian Proverbs gives the reader an authentic view of the customs and traditions of the people of Sicily as expressed and endorsed by the people themselves. This is the first of four volumes of proverbs collected by Giuseppe Pitrè, which he organized into ninety chapters. Volume I contains the first twenty-five chapters. These first twenty-five chapters give you an entertaining, and authentic look at the life of the Sicilian people as they see themselves through the proverbs they have adopted and use from day to day.

Lu studiu fa l’omu ddottu e la cuscienzia castu (Pitrè, IV, 43). Study makes a man learned and his conscience makes him honest.

It is available from Amazon in paperback and in a Kindle edition.

Sicilian Proverbs Volume II.

Volume II of Sicilian Proverbs gives the reader an authentic view of the customs and traditions of the people of Sicily as expressed and endorsed by the people themselves. This is the second of four volumes of proverbs collected by Giuseppe Pitrè, which he organized into ninety chapters. Volume II contains twenty-nine chapters.

The chapters are organized by topics, starting with: Chapter XXVI Physical Things, through Chapter LIV Occupations, Various Professions. These twenty-nine chapters also give you an entertaining, and authentic look at the life of the Sicilian people as they see themselves through the proverbs they have adopted and use from day to day.

Volume II is available from Amazon in paperback and in a Kindle edition.

Sicilian Proverbs Volume III.

Sicilian Proverbs Volume III (Giuseppe Pitrè 1841-1916) is an English translation of Pitrè’s third of four volumes in the series Proverbi Siciliani / Sicilian Proverbs. They are part of a twenty-five volume collection of Sicilian folklore. Volume III contains more than 3500 Sicilian proverbs organized into twenty chapters. Each proverb is displayed in its original Sicilian, followed immediately by its English translation. The chapters include: LV, Weather, Seasons, Times of the Year, LVI, Life's Miseries, Human Conditions, LVII, Death, LVIII, Move to Another City, Travel, LIX, Different Natures,LX, Peoples, Countries, Cities, LXI, Pride, Vanity, Conceit, LXII, Obstinacy, Flexibility, LXIII, Sloth, Industry, Work, LXIV, Speaking, Keeping Silent, LXV, Fear, Meanness of heart, Courage, Ardor, LXVI, Patience, Resignation, LXVII, Poverty, Wealth, LXVIII, Integrity, Honor LXIX, Prudence, Sagacity, Rashness, Light Heartedness,LXX, Rules for Judging,LXXI, Rules of Behavior and Conversation,LXXII, Religion.LXXIII, Deliberation, Consideration, Time,LXXIV, Resolve, Promptness, Seize the Occasions. .

Volume III is available from Amazon in paperback and in a Kindle edition on or abaut Dec 15, 2018.

To A Great Lord A Small Gift / A gran signuri picculu prisenti.

Sicilian proverbs are sometimes ambiguous and difficult to understand. Giuseppe Pitrè addressed this problem with a group of fables that explain the origin and/or the meaning of each proverb. The fables were collected from storytellers in all the provinces of Sicily except for the province of Messina where Laura Gonzenbach, a native of Messina, had already collected 90 of them which she translated into German. Pitrè often cites her collection whenever a proverb in his collection coincides with one in the Gonzenbach collection.

It is available from Amazon in paperback and in a Kindle edition.