For the 2013 Campari calendar, Spanish actress Penelope Cruz defies superstitions like black cats, broken mirrors, walking under ladders and spilling salt, as well as some I’d never heard of… sweeping feet, birds flying inside, and putting your hat on your bed. (Apparently, evil spirits in your hair are transferred into your bed – but what about when you lie in bed with your hair on your pillow?) Hmmm.
{Photographer: Kristian Schuller.}
I’d heard about the hat on the bed superstition through my maternal grandmother. Whenever we visited her in Italy, she also didn’t let us put umbrellas on the bed. I’ve just bought ‘Mezza Italiana’ and look forward to reading it. Oh, and thanks for following my blogposts.
I’ve come across superstitions through my grandmother and especially my bisnonna (the village witch or healer). I love how Italian grandmothers are often surrounded by a little superstition and magic. I noticed you are from Trieste – I just happen to be reading a book at present called, Trieste Goes to Australia by Gianfranco Cresciani, as part of research for the next manuscript. Thank you for buying Mezza – much appreciated!
I’ve read Trieste Goes to Australia and I know Gianfranco. He’s written other books about Italian migration to Australia but all in Italian – this was easier and faster to read for me. He makes some interesting points although you may find some of the finer details of the workings of the local social club a bit too specific. I loved it as it brought back memories of the internal politics as well as dancing with the Italian boys and playing pool when I was too young to be allowed out to the ‘real world’. Keep in touch. cheers