Every year on May 1st, in Castel del Giudice, La Maggiolata is celebrated, the propitiatory rite that celebrates spring as well as the awakening of nature. According to tradition, early in the morning, the boys of the village in traditional costume and with beech branches in hand (the beech, in fact, is the first tree to show its green leaves) go around the streets of the village entering the houses singing to wish that the year is a good year for the harvest. They receive gifts and money just as the text says they sing “money in your pocket and egg in the basket”. The gifts are often eggs and other food.
Adults, on the other hand, at lunchtime together with the cooks of the town cook huge omelettes which together with all the food received as gifts (such as soppressate, caciocavalli and desserts) are enjoyed in the square of the small Molise center on large tables set up and adorned with branches beech.
The song of “La Maggiolata” in Castel del Giudice goes like this:
Ecco il maggio
il sole splende il raggio
verde i prati verde i campi
nella tempestato
Iddio c’è la scampi
il Signore ci benedice
l’animale con la spiga
noi cantiamo con amore
come pure l’agricoltore.
Eccoti queste maje
maje majtte
purtate ve l’aje
e purtatemele a vede’
quiste maje pe’ sape ‘
e venite voi zitelle
a purtare le cose belle
e venite voi signore
a purtare le cose bone
e per la città de Bari
e per Santa Niculare
Santa Nicola faceva la spiga
Santa Nicola la benedica
Santa Nicola canta canta
Padre Figlio E Spirito santo.
Translation: Here is May, the sun’s rays are shining, the fields and meadows are green, God help us in the storm, the Lord bless the animals and the wheat. We sing with love, as does the farmer. Here, this is May, May May, I brought it to you, you bring it to me to see this May, to know! Come you spinsters to bring the beautiful things, and you gentlemen come to bring the good things,
And for the city of Bari, and for Santa Nicolare, San Nicola gave the ear, San Nicola blends it, San Nicola sings sings, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
In the videos the performance of the folkloric group Agnone.
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