03 Mar Charming Traditions of Apulia: “Pupe della Quarantana”
Popular traditions of Apulia
The world of the traditions of Apulia is very rich and vivid. As it happens basically everywhere in Italy, there is often a tight connection with the Catholic religion and the figures of saints or biblical characters, whose stories have been transmitted for centuries.
The periods of Lent and Easter, with all their symbolism, are characterised by many ancient traditions, that can be also very different from one area to the other: each village and town has its own specific folk customs that their inhabitants treasure with great care.
Among all these traditions of Apulia, there is a very peculiar and ancient one that takes place in the town of Casamassima, near Bari. It is the tradition of the so-called “Pupe della Quarantana”. “Pupe” means dolls, and we are talking about actual handmade ragdolls, that every family sew at home for the period of Lent (Quarantana in Apulian dialect).
A balcony in Casamassima with its seven “Pupe” (selfietagram.com)
“Pupe della Quarantana”: a very symbolic tradition
During the festivities of Carnival, these dolls are prepared following precise rules: they must be seven, as they represent the seven weeks of the period of Lent.
They can be made in different materials: swatches and rags, cardboard, wadding or straw for the padding, woollen yarns to make the hair.
Each of them represent a different character with its own name (in Apulian dialect), features and symbolism, mostly deriving from the Bible. Even their clothes must have specific colours according to the character!
The first one is Janne (Anne), that represents Saint Anna, the mother of the Virgin Mary. Her dress is beige or tobacco-brown. Then there is Pagan, in a striped or checked red dress, representing pagan gods or Carnival.
The third one is R’bbècc (Rebecca), Isaac’s wife, dressed in purple. She is a symbol of innocence as well as S’sann (Susan), who is dressed in light pink.
Then there is Lazz’r (Lazarus), with a purple-red dress, symbol of the miracle of Resurrection and Palm, that is symbol of peace and has a black dress with golden details.
The last one is Pasq (Easter) that represents purity and Jesus’ victory over death: the dress is white with golden trims.
At the beginning of Lent, all these seven dolls are hanged to a besom or to a rope between the balconies or in front of the windows all around the town.
At the end of each week, one of the dolls is taken away, starting with the doll of Janne, until they are all gone on Easter Sunday.
Both the inhabitants of Casamassima and the tourists love to go around the streets admiring all these little dolls, that seem to be suspended in the sky!
And the love for this tradition is such that local organizations create specific courses to teach children and adults how to make these little dolls: in this way it will be mantained and preserved for the future.
The seven Pupe that stand out against the sky (Twitter.com)
Do you like this tradition? Let us know in the comments!
And, do you know? You are still in time for a quick trip to Casamassima to admire the “Pupe della Quarantana”!
If you need any information about this and other traditions of Apulia, contact us!!!
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Lots of (Apulian) love!
♥♥♥ Claudia
[your friendly neighborhood wedding planner]
Cover photo: Pro Loco Casamassima
Source: Wikipedia
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