In this video, I am in Palermo, strolling along Via Vittorio Emanuele in the historical center. I will show you a muffoletta, a traditional Italian street food made during the Feast of the Dead (Festa dei Morti).
The Feast of the Dead takes place on November 2nd every year. It comes the day after All Saints’ Day, which is November 1st.
It is a sesame seed bun filled with anchovies and olive oil, but it can also contain tomatoes and cheese. See more options below.
If you think you will find the famous muffuletta in New Orleans, you will be sadly disappointed.
The irony is that a Sicilian created the New Orleans sandwich in the early 1900s. Salvatore Lupo set up a store called Central Grocery in the French Quarter.
The New Orleans version has ham, salami, cheeses, and a famous olive tapenade on top.
Mr. Lupo created this sandwich to help the Sicilians who emigrated to New Orleans assimilate into their new world. Many of them worked in the sugar cane fields. The neighborhood in the French Quarter is actually known as Little Palermo.
In New Orleans, they can eat this sandwich any time of year. It is not a holiday meal.
An interesting fact is that New Orleans was the second-largest port of entry for Sicilians after Ellis Island in New York City.
Feast of the Dead Tradition in Italy
On November 2nd, many in Sicily and Italy will visit cemeteries to honor their loved ones who have passed away. They will often bring a packed lunch to make a day of it. And a muffuletta sandwich is usually one of the items they will bring to the cemetery to celebrate this day.
Of course, flowers are widely used in cemeteries to commemorate the dead. The flower shops in Italy are busy at this time of year.
Oddly enough, you will not find a muffoletta sandwich in Palermo at any other time of year. It is only for this special celebration.
Variations in Spelling Muffoletta
In Palermo, you will see the spelling as muffoletta, but in some parts of Sicily, you will see it spelled as muffuletta. This spelling is how they know it in New Orleans.
Types of Muffoletta in Palermo
Classica – Olio e acciughe – olive oil and anchovies
Rustica – Olio, pomodoro, Cacio cavallo, cipolla, acciughe – olive oil, tomatoes, Southern Italian cheese, onions, anchovies
Bomba – Olio, acciughe, tonno, pomodoro, Cacio cavallo, ricotta, olive – “The bomb” made with olive oil, anchovies, tuna, tomatoes, Southern Italian cheese, ricotta, and olives.
No Mafia Memorial in Palermo, Sicily
In the video, I am also in front of the No Mafia Memorial in Palermo along Via Vittorio Emanuele. It is a lovely tribute to honor those who have fallen victim to organized crime that has plagued the city for decades. This memorial is the city’s way of showing they are fighting back.
Pictures seen in the video of Palermo, you can view related videos and blog posts
Porta Nuova
Teatro Massimo
Teatro Politeama
Piazza Pretoria
Do they celebrate Halloween in Italy?
View my Palermo Guidebook on Amazon
Muffolette types and prices
Ingredients commonly found in muffoletta sandwiches.
