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Town Arquata del Tronto Folklore Capodacqua Traditions: Lu Sfuglia
Town Arquata del Tronto Folklore Capodacqua Traditions: Lu Sfuglia
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LU SFUGLIA' Before the 1950’s, in the autumn evenings following the maize harvest, the small householders (by tradition and for convenience) invited the young people of the town, both male and female, to their homes for the “sfuglià”. And hey presto, it was a party!A party for the young people, who thanks to this occasion could enjoy themselves and flirt, but also for the older people, who relived their own youth through the protagonists of the moment.In the middle of a big kitchen or in a more spacious room, the pile of ears of corn was already ready: the young people sat around it alternating boy and girl, or according to reciprocal liking. The husking took place in this fresh and informal atmosphere and often went on long into the night, between jokes, quips and various games.Yet the evenings “de lu sfuglià” also held another attraction for the youngsters, undoubtedly more important to them than the others: the red maize. Yes, the husk with the red grains. If a young man husking the corn found the red maize, tradition had it that he could kiss the girl he preferred. This was not always an easy thing to do, because it often happened that the chosen girl didn’t willingly accept the kiss or made faces. In those cases, the young man was rarely willing to put his pride on one side and often resorted to stronger measures…and so an amusing scuffle would arise, usually finishing with four legs in the air on the heap of corn, amongst much laughter.If a bit of the girl’s legs was revealed during the scuffle, it raised a scandal. And what a scandal it was! Woe betides the “shameless hussy” who had let herself be jolted about at home and shown her thighs to everyone! The next day the locals would spread the news to the four winds.When there were only a few red husks the young people resorted to subterfuge. Just one husk, through “backways” and other methods, opportunely covered and uncovered as needed, served numerous young men wanting a kiss. Finally, at the end of the evening, often once the work was finished, the glass of locally produced sparkling light wine was passed around for the third or fourth time, this time accompanied by something to eat. Then in a flash the room was cleared. As if by magic, the traditional accordion appeared and the evening finished with polkas, mazurkas and saltarellas until, tired but not satiated, everyone took their leave and went home. Bibliography:
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