di Andrea Romanazzi

The Sicilian ritual to become a witch is an ancient and mysterious ceremony, rich in traditions and symbolism rooted in the island’s folklore and culture. Becoming a witch is not a destiny but a choice that requires a long and challenging path of learning and initiation. The process involves an “investiture” by other priestesses, who pass on their knowledge and powers to the new initiate. This transformation occurs through a complex ritual in which the novice is stripped of her garments and former identity to embrace a new life filled with magic and secrets.

During the ritual, the candidate is subjected to a deep sleep induced by special sleeping aids and suggestions, symbolizing a spiritual rebirth. Upon waking, she recites an ancient formula that marks her entry into the world of witches, granting her the freedom and power to influence her own destiny and that of others.

This rite of passage is a sacred and solemn moment that takes place away from prying eyes. Here is the complete ritual:

Semu vinuti tutti trentatri E ti vinnimu tutti a visitari, Ed ogneduna ti voli ciatari, ‘Ncumpagnia nostra ti vulemu purtari. Granni putistà t’avemu a dari E li nostri cumanni divi fari. Mentri chi si curcata usciri Pri prisintariti a la Fata maggiuri, Fariti vidiri, fariti canusciri, Scriviri un libru di cuncizioni; Chi quannu chiami la Fata maggiuri Tuttu chiddu chi voi ti l’avi a fari Lassacci un truffu di li to’ capiddi Chi ti li metta ‘ntra un libru maggiuri. A lu cimiteru di Ventotene ti voli purtari Unni ci sù li spiriti maggiuri E chi quannu tu nesci ‘ncumpagnia Nudda donna, nuddu spiritu eci sia Chi ponnu dari suggizioni a tia.

We have all come, all thirty-three, and we all come to visit you, and each of us wants to greet you. We want to bring you into our company. We must grant you great powers, and you must obey our commands. You must rise while lying down to present yourself to the Major Fairy and be seen and known by her. You must write a book of mottos so that when you call the Major Fairy, she must do everything you want. Leave her a lock of your hair so that she can place it in her great book. She wants to take you to the cemetery of Ventotene, where the major spirits are, and when you leave in their company, no woman or spirit will be able to intimidate you.

After twenty-four hours have passed, the novice recites the following verses:

Mi risvigghiu e mi vju sula. Ch’àiu statu cu li signuri, Chi m’hannu fattu viaggiari. Haju patutu ed aju gudutu. M’haju pigghiatu gran piaciri Chi nun si po’ pigghiari nuddu. Pozzu fari soccu vogghiu, E nun c’è nuddu chi m’avi a tuccari La lingua ‘nterra cci fazzu stricari.

I wake up and find myself alone, after being with the ladies who made me travel. I have suffered and enjoyed. I have taken great pleasures that no one else can take. I can do whatever I want, and no one dares to touch me; otherwise, I will make them rub their tongue on the ground.

At this point, one of the senior witches confides all the secrets to her, the recipes for the preparation of potions, the way to remove curses, in short, all the secrets of the art.

The rite of investiture can be performed on any day of the week, except Friday, the day Our Lord Jesus Christ died. Pitrè writes: “No one can cast a spell who is not vested with the right to practice witchcraft. One cannot exercise this right without first committing forty mortal sins for 40 consecutive days.”