mattanza
Language: Italian
Description: In Sicily this refers to the ritual killing of tuna, whereas in Spain the matanza it is the day of the killing of a pig.
The mattanza takes place in May and June, when the giant fish swim past the coasts. In Sicily, the few remaining mattanzas take place off the island's western point among the Egadi Islands. The term "mattanza" comes to us from an old Spanish word, matar, meaning "to kill." A series of vast nets are lowered into the water. The tuna are captured in successive nets which are gradually restricted in size and raised toward the surface, where the fish are attacked with what might be described as large spears in a sophisticated trap system.
Pronounced: mah-TAHN-tsah
Latin: Thunnus thunnus
Ethnicity: Italian
Most frequent country: Italy
Most frequent region: Sicily
See places: Italian food and cuisine, Sicily
See: matanza
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