Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 24, 1913.djvu/237

 Collectanea. 2 1 5

The young folks place the long and large pillow-cushion on the nuptial couch, and, if not watched, will try to play some trick on the newly-married couple, such as propping up the bed so that it will fall to pieces when used, or hiding the key of the room. A game was also played of which the meaning is obscure. Slices of bread soaked in wine and sugar were toasted and then offered on a plate to the married couple. When they put out a hand to help themselves, the pieces of bread were stuck through with little sticks to hinder them from being snatched away.

At Boves, near Coni, a tax {labramari) of one per cent, ot the dowry was once levied by the municipality on a widow or widower who married again. A bride who married outside the village ])aid two per cent. A barrier was put across the church door, and was not removed until these taxes had been paid.

Carnival and Letit. — At Turin, among the poor folks. Carnival and Lent used to be represented by two puppets. The skeleton of the Carnival figure was a wooden cross with the arms hinged by bands and nails. Details were neglected, but the figure had a suit stuffed out as much as possible with straw and rags, and was given a stick under its arm, a buttonhole flower, a cigar or pipe in its mouth, and an old cap over its eyes. It was conveyed round the streets in a cart or on a donke}-, accompanied by the beating and rubbing of sticks on the bottoms of metal, wood, or earthenware vessels. On the last day of the Carnival its funeral song was sung : —

" Carnuval niio piin d'ogli, Staser maccarun e crai fogli."

The Carnival figure was burned at midnight. The Carnival being dead, his widow, Lent, remained. She was represented by a thin puppet, dressed in mourning, and hung for forty days between two neighbouring balconies in allweathers "as an example of work and suffering." At her feet was attached a small orange with six black chicken feathers stuck in it, and at the bottom a white feather. A black feather was pulled out on each Sunday, the last white feather representing the Day of Resurrection.

Holy Thursday. — At Limone the windows are illuminated by lamps consisting of wicks floating in snail shells full of oil. There is an elaborate religious procession and service.