Corajisima – ‘the widow of Martedì Grasso’ (the last day to eat all you want before abstaining during Lent). Then, from midnight, Corajisima roams the streets with boiling water to burn the throats of whoever dares to eat meat or sweets.
In southern Italy, hanging a handmade Corajisima effigy in windows or at doors is to remind it’s currently the Christian Lenten ritual of fasting and sacrifice and she’s come to appear as a skinny, old, ugly woman in black with feathers, fruit and a spindle.
However, originally, she was quite different. Since ancient times the effigy of a woman with fruit, feathers and spinning tools has been used in both old, Italian folklore and paganism to symbolise transformation and the earth reawakening. A lovely, comforting figure to encourage perseverance until the full arrival of spring.
I happen to have a doll (just like the one in the pretty red-painted window with its lace curtain) that Nanna Francesca gave to me as a child (yes, this doll is still in my cupboard!) Yet, Corajisima and this tradition wasn’t carried on after she and her mum emigrated from Calabria to Australia and it’s sobering to think of emigration ending a tradition so very old. Perhaps come spring in Australia, I should bring out this doll and find some feathers and a spindle?! (Spindles were a big deal in Abruzzo folklore too.)
Whatever might be thought of these old rituals, to me there is something quite incredible in how they’ve survived thousands of years, to evolve or be hijacked, yet are still ongoing. And it’s wonderful to think this one was originally a figure to encourage perseverance until the arrival of better times, a time of transformation and reawakening. ❤️🍊🧵🌿
‘Raccavallala!’ Granny Maddalena cried out if someone stepped over a child lying on the floor – step back over it! – or you’d stunt the child’s growth. I’m currently researching Italian folklore and came across this very superstition and many others like… never put your wallet on the floor or you’ll have no money. If you accidentally put your clothes on inside out in the morning it’s good luck and you’ll receive good news. Wasting food or throwing it out brings misfortune. Remove cobwebs with your left hand for good luck.
Beside Maddalena’s amulet are her gold earrings – given to young girls as gold was believed to protect against blindness and misfortune and interestingly because it symbolises the sun’s power and masculine energy. I have no idea how old these earrings are but Estella Canziani did paintings of similar earrings worn by peasants in Italy and France that she saw during her travels in the 1900s, including in the area of Abruzzo where Granny lived.
Zoë Boccabella 