The Montoro Carnival - Montoro (AV)

CARNIVAL

The Carnival of Montoro, also known as Mascarata, consists of the four historical events of the hamlets of Piazza di Pandola, Borgo, Figlioli and Banzano.

Each Mascarata is committed, today, to maintaining intact the link with its cultural substratum. The Mascarata of Piazza di Pandola is a rich procession that parades along the streets of the village. One of the typical masks is Pulcinella riding the old woman; other characters are the gypsy, the bear, the hunter, the notary, the scaruta (i.e. aged) lady, the newsagent, the basket-maker (‘o panar’), the old woman with the distaff, Lent, the grooms, and the guardian of the weaving (capintreccio). The Mascarata di Piazza di Pandola has received attention and in-depth study from an anthropological and ethnomusicological perspective thanks to studies conducted in the 1970s by Annabella Rossi and Roberto De Simone.

The Mascarata di Borgo, also known as ‘A Zez co’ntreccio, is characterised by the processional dance of the weaving with two capintrecci – one at the head, the other at the tail -, the masks of Punchinello on horseback, the old woman, the bear and the tamer. The Mascarata di Borgo is accompanied by the tarantella, reproduced with bass drum, cymbals and snare drum, but without the ciaramella. The Mascarata di Figlioli involves the departure from Figlioli of the masks intreccio, zingara, pulcinella on horseback, and la vecchia con la conocchia, for an impressive procession that moves towards Piano and Preturo and then returns to Figlioli. Currently, a parade with allegorical floats is celebrated. In the past, the floats consisted of boats mounted on the frame of a bicycle, motorbike or car. “Several characters were ‘on board’, dressed as crew members.

The Mascarata di Banzano has gradually decayed, keeping alive, however, the element of the interlacing with the two capidaballo and the little orchestra with snare drums, cymbals, bass drum, again without the ciaramella. The Mascarata di Banzano is taking up the traditional forms of the event by grafting modern sounds onto the rhythm of the indigenous tarantella.

The importance of the social values and cultural significance of the Montoro Carnival is given by the high number of adhesions, even among young people, who are engaged in building the little boat mounted on the bicycle, in procuring the instruments for the musical band that accompanies the tarantella, in organising the weaving, in rehearsing the acting out of the parts of the roles and trades and the song of Zeza. The Montorese community finds in Carnival not only an opportunity to resolve disagreements and disputes that have matured in the system of social relations, but also an important moment of redemption: in fact, Carnival represents an opportunity to reintegrate into society individuals who habitually live on the margins.