Typical children’s games, such as “campana,” “staccia,” “si loca,” “vola llu ciucciu,” “allu strumbulu,” and “pizzicu e mazza” have yielded their place to a countless series of complicated but perfectly-made mechanical and electrical toys, and to ultra-modern video games that are well known to all our boys and girls.

There were once many customs that were respected on the occasion of engagements and wedding rites, of the serenade under the window of a loved one, of dispatching of a so-called “ambasciaturi” (ambassador), a person empowered to ask the parents for the hand of their daughter, the ritual banquet with home-made salami and country-style cuts of meat washed down with an abundance of good wine which served to “appuntari ‘u matrimmuano,” that is to seal the promise of marriage.

Little decorated “vozze;” product of Nicastro. Photo by Rochira

“Varrilli;” product of Nicastro. Private collection Zaffina Luogo della Memoria

A woman’s work was particularly important in an era in which houses were not furnished with a water system. Drinking water had to be brought from public fountains in “vozze,” distinctively shaped terracotta receptacles with long necks and two symmetrical handles each, the work of local “pignatari” (potters). These “vozze” were almost a distinctive mark of Nicastro. Also used for the same purpose were “varrili,” wooden receptacles fashioned by “varrilari.” For the indispensable bleaching and washing of clothing and linens, one betook one’s self to the river.

Today the figure of “a lavandera” has disappeared, swallowed up by progress and industrial civilization. In past centuries, such labors as “assambarari,” that is to soap up, “ncrivillari,” that is to arrange the soapy clothing in its proper basket in which they were to receive the warm “lissia,” or lye-water, were carried out according to specific norms dictated by centuries old traditions. Specific customs characterized funeral rites. The “pacchiane” who “sciadevano,” that is they loosened their long and rich gowns as a sign of respect, the relatives of the deceased in austere black clothing to be worn for years afterwards, the loosening of one’s hair, the scratching of one’s face with one’s nails, and other uncontrolled gestures of desperation, the long mournful high-voiced lamentations, weeping cries of praise and commendations for the deceased, are all usages and traditions that are disappearing bit by bit.