L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 www.italoamericano.org 15 L'Italo-Americano Antonio Veneziano repre- s e n t s t h e h i g h e s t p o i n t o f Sicilian Renaissance poetry and is to be considered the initiator of the Sicilian dialect tradition out of which would come great poets such as Giovanni Meli, D o m e n i c o T e m p i o , N i n o Martoglio, Alessio di Giovanni, S a n t o C a l ì , a n d I g n a z i o Buttitta, Perhaps one octave can pro- vide a hint of Veneziano's poet- ry: 'Mmatula a darmi morti ti lambichi 'Mmatula a darmi morti ti lambichi, e d'ogni modu chi poi e sai, m'aucidi, chi tantu chiù grann'almu mi nutrichi, quantu chiù a grann'imprisa mi disfidi; Si tuttu mi pizzii e mi smud- dichi, cridimi, beni miu, cridimi, cridi, ch'in tanti specchi, muddichi muddichi, vidirai lu to aspettu, e la mia fidi. No matter how you strive to give me death No matter how you strive to give me death and injure me in every way you know, you will give only boldness to my courage, c h a l l e n g i n g m e t o f i g h t a greater battle. If you make crumbs of me, tear me to bits, believe me, my beloved, do believe, that you will find in every tiny piece my faith and a reflection of your face. E maranteghe i xe 'riva anca 'sto ano! From the Venetian dialect, this translates "Even this year, the witches (le befane) have arrived". There can be no feast of the Epiphany in the ancient Maritime Republic without the t r a d i t i o n a l " R e g a t t a o f t h e Epiphany Witches". An event where the oldest rowers of the most ancient rowing club in Venice, called the Bucintoro, challenge one another on the short stretch of the Grand Canal b e t w e e n S a n T o m a a n d t h e bridge, Ri'Alto. The two banks of the Grand Canal that are just before the bridge which is the symbol of this marine city are traditionally under attack. It can- not be otherwise: the tourists c o m e t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e Venetians as they all wait for the race. Under the bridge, on the opposite side of the Town Hall of Ca'Farsetti, folk music entertains the audience while refreshments passed around, mulled wine for the grown-ups and candy, hot chocolate and venetian sweets for the little ones. The race begins when the masked fleets of witches brooms make their way in the lagoons. H a l f w a y t h r o u g h , b e t w e e n guards and a procession, the par- ticipants are followed by other boats carrying a Santa Clause and many other women witches. A clarification is necessary here because in the race, the Befane are boys in disguise, competing in a meticulous regulation outfit made up of a white old lady's hat, a long black skirt and blue wool capes over their shoulders. Once someone has won, there is the inevitable show of oars to the delight of many spectators. On land you see flashes of cam- eras and hear a roar of applause. Once the race is over, from the Ri'Alto bridge, falls a giant stocking sending wishes to the entire city. As the winners of the regatta continue to celebrate and the giant stocking hangs over the Grand Canal, the residents return home. Some people wear the typical headscarf while others t h e t r a d i t i o n a l l a r g e p o i n t y witch's hat. Others all done up according to the theme of the event, everyone taking wing and moving in another dimension. The appointment is at sunset when the secular rite of the event LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE The traditional "Regatta of the Epiphany Witches" Continued from page 13 In Venice, the Befana arrives in a gondola for the regatta under the Rialto Bridge - the old lady's bonfire - takes place. On a pyre of wood, a puppet, symbolizing the past year, is placed. While it is burn- ing, the appeasing rite for the new year begins: people warm themselves with mulled wine, with hot wine flavored with cin- namon and cloves, and eat the traditional venetian wheat cake, which is a small focaccia made with corn flour, pine nuts, dried figs and raisins. The raisins, which symbolize abundance, are considered a lucky food. LUCA FERRARI Translation by Angela Di Nardo

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