Sing the night away

A  unique celebration in Gambatesa

I decided to something really different for NEW YEAR as it is my favourite night of the year, and I like to celebrate by doing something different every year.

This year having done some research I discovered .........................................

The Maitunat, a rather unusual name for the most amazing night of celebration.

I  met up with an amazing group of people who sang their hearts out all night and made me very welcome

Just once a year the ancient hilltop village of Gambatesa in Molise celebrates in a very unique and unusual way. Following an old tradition now more than three hundred years.

  The village hosts a night of music, humour and laughter............

Before the sunset on the last day of the year groups of local people gather to start and play music which begins to drift around the usually quiet streets. 

The MAITUNAT is an ancient rite. The songs called STORNLE begin after dinner on the 31st until long into the day of the first.

A STORNLE a song in rhyme which allows the singer to poke fun at their neighbours and others in the village, even the local mayor is a target. The opportunity to do this is only allowed at New Year.

 The musicians and singers wander around the village in groups accordions, drums, guitars, and even flutes, violins and saxophones.

Each singer has his style and it is certainly an art to create this type of music, which is really a type of satirical poetry and quite unique.

Eating and drinking is part of the event too, and at each house, the musicians are offered well-laden tables with cake, biscuits, wine, pizza and a range of other delights.

The festivities on New Years Eve last all night until breakfast in the morning,

I did not manage to survive until afternoon on New Years Day when the music starts again. 

The music starts again then and the groups have a competition between each other

Guitars and violins

Trumpets and French Horns

Tambourines and Drums

Bugles raising the roof

Party time at Midnight

Celebrating in style

Some local handmade instruments

Fun for all ages .. quite a night

Fireworks herald the morning of 2018

Singing the night away

Bang the drum and greet the New Year

Food laden tables

Brass bands

A night I will never forget

Happy New Year from Gambatesa
A BIG THANK EVERYONE 

A blaze of glory

Researching the internet for events this Christmas I discovered one here in Molise the hilltop village of Oratino there is a tradition which dates back originally to Pagan times.

It takes place every year on Christmas Eve and has done so for hundreds of years...

It is an amazing site to behold, requiring a great feat of endurance, and determination to build and erect a thirteen-metre pillar of bamboo cane.

Fascinated by the ceremony and it's history I spoke to Alessandro from the village. He is proud of his job, which is to light the pillar when it in place.

Apparently, it takes four days to make the pillar, after several weeks of collecting cane from the region.

Once it is made, it is then transported through the village by a group of more than forty-eight men, who carry the pillar on their shoulders.

When they arrive in the city centre they hoist the pillar into place in front of the church, with chains and cables.

It was rather worrying from a health and safety perspective but the gang of men doing it seemed to have it under control, clambering up and down ladders, and working as a team to make it safe and secure.

WELL DONE GUYS...

As there were a few hiccups getting it secured it took a little longer than expected but finally the proud Alessandro was able to climb up the church tower and reach out with a burning torch to light the pillar.

It took only a few minutes for the flames to take hold, and it began to burn like a giant candle sparks flying brightly through the air.

Finally, the village priest blesses the pillar linking the church with an age-old tradition which spans history and time.

Again as on so many occasions, I am inspired by the determination of local people of all ages to continue their traditional festivals and events

Unfortunately even here in Molise where there so many fascinating ceremonies and festivals few people even know they exist.

Although in Agnone there is a similar event called the Ndocciata on a much larger scale that has now become fairly well known and is now held twice in December.

The rich culture and history of Molise has so much to offer travellers, adventurers and tourists from overseas as well as those nearer home.

Once again well done Molise, and Oratino... I know you are proud of your origins, your history. your heritage, and your culture
Long may it continue.

Thank you Oratino