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Welcome Our Traditions |
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AN EVERGREEN TRADITION
The "maitunata" of Massa
by Pacifico Cofrancesco
As punctual as usual, the so-called "maitunata" (a word of uncertain origin) opened this year’s New Year's Day of Massa, with the organizational support of the local Pro Loco association.
Photos and video by Pacifico Cofrancesco
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Even though its format is slightly changed from the ancient ones, in substance the maitunata remains the same. With the arrival of the New Year, we need to wish each other health and prosperity, and renew our hopes in a better future.
The "A Te Biondina Wine Band" of Massa
singing the "Maitunata"
In Massa, as well as in other places near the region of Molise, since time immemorial this is done with music and singing. Some time ago people visited each home the night before New Year's Day, and following a well-defined scheme, they unfailingly praised, often with some irony, the head of the family and his wife "bella e bbona" ("nice and good"), his beautiful children, and nice parents. They shouted good wishes, and carried a type of "good luck tree", decorated with colored ribbons and paper money, singing and declaring with the stentorian tone of a town crier of yore, wishes for a new year of pace e allegrezza ("peace and joy"), “ran senza munnezza ("wheat without weeds"), denar assai da spenn ("a lot of money to spend"), vin bbon ("good wine"), temp megl ("better weather"), and salute ("health").
Alessandro Colasanto, President of the "Pro Loco" of Massa
offering wine to the "Wine Band"...
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Wishes and hugs
The square of Massa
during the "maitunata"
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Ancient values and hopes, typical of a rural culture that is fading,
even in people's memory, but the "maitunata" of Massa contributes to
keeping traditions alive. Michele Di Leone is the main force
maintaining this tradition in Massa. He has gathered the texts, orally
transmitted from generation to generation, and today is in charge of
shouting wishes to all people coming within his "shout range",
emphasizing each sentence with the sound of the putipu. The putipu
(called also bufu in other places) is a classical folk instrument, with
a sound somewhat between a trombone and a double bass. The sound is
made by rubbing a wet rag on a reed connected to a kind of drum
(usually made with a barrel). The “A Te Biondina Wine Band” of Massa
provides his accompaniment. The entire group was there: Ciccio
Cofrancesco, guitar; Carlo Lavorgna, accordion; Valerio Ciarlo, tenor;
and Tatonno Colella, Rodolfo Simone, Gaetano Cofrancesco, Peppino
Lavorgna and Alfredo Di Leone, tambourines and singers.
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Ciccio Cofrancesco
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Valerio Ciarlo
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Carlo Lavorgna
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Beppe Lavorgna
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Tatonno Colella
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Gaetano Cofrancesco
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Rodolfo Simone
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Michele Di Leone
playing the "putipu"
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This year, the "maitunata" of Massa drew the attention of a
musicologist, Sabrina Cuneo, who came to Massa from Rome with the
photographer Carmine Puzo, and they took pictures and movies of the
special event. Of course she was also the object of the words of good
wishes of the "maitunata" of Massa, together with "her beautiful
husband" and "her beautiful family". As it usually happens in such
occasions, the festival atmosphere gradually grows, and this year,
following the call of the music, the little square of Massa became
crowded with people for a final toast, eating some panettone, and
exchanging kisses and hugs to wish each other Happy New Year!
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The musicologist
Sabrina Cuneo
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The video
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