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| La notte del Cucibocca by Rocco Soranno, Wikipedia |
Silentium sit vobis charum ut vivet non sit amarum [1]At eventide on January 5th, the night before the Epiphany, dark and mysterious figures known as the Cucibocca descend from the ancient Benedictine Abbey of St. Michael the Archangel to wander the cobblestoned streets of Montescaglioso, a small hilltop town in Lucania, in search of the nove bocconi, or the “nine bites.” Knocking on peoples doors or visiting outdoor tables laden with nine different offerings, the locals proffer generous libations (wine) and alms (food) for the Cucibocca’s nocturnal visitation.
Dressed in black cloaks, overcoats, and broad brimmed hats made from old hemp disks from the towns historic oil mill, the grey haired and long bearded revenants represent the Montese’s ancestral spirits. On their journey, the eldritch pilgrims carry long walking sticks, lanterns, wicker baskets, and cobbler’s awls with twine. What’s more, they have orange peels for eyes and broken chains fastened around their ankles. Continue reading
