|
A
1950s baptism performed by Father Vincenzo Cubelli |
| calitri
tradizioni |
| After
giving birth, as soon as she was well enough to go out of her house,
the new mother, accompanied by a relative or friend, would go to
church to invoke a special form of purification termed “entrare
in santità”, a version of the ancient Jewish ritual. |
| The
new mother stood motionless at the church entrance in observance
of the rule of absolute silence (she wasn’t even allowed to
speak or greet people on the way to church). Meanwhile, her companion
went to the vestry to inform the priest of her friend’s arrival. |
| After
putting on his surplice and stole, the priest would go to the church
door and begin the ritual. The new mother held a lighted candle
in one hand and the hem of the priest’s stole in the other.
Along with the celebrant she would then proceed to the altar where
the ritual would continue at the foot of the altar and was concluded
with a benediction. |
| Well
before the child’s birth, the parents made sure to search
among their friends for sponsors for the baptism. When the baby
arrived, the godparents gave the mother a gift consisting of a hen
and two young doves. None of the persons who had been solicited
would refuse to serve as godparents since it was believed that a
refusal could spell bad luck for the unborn child. |
| In
most cases, baptisms were held during winter when farm work was
at a temporary standstill. Often it took place at a time when the
family’s pig was slaughtered. As a consequence, many of the
babies often reached the baptismal font when they were months old
or even at a stage when they were babbling their first words. |
| The
baby was carried to church by the mother, with at her side her husband,
the sponsors and a child who held a glass covered with a white napkin. |
| The
priest would pour holy water (considered miraculous) in the glass
so that later the mother would sprinkle it over the child’s
crib. According to an old custom, the godfather would give the boy
bearing the glass a small coin as a gift. |
| Then
the family and friends returned home where a feast took place. From
that day on, special ties of friendship were established between
the sponsors and the child’s family. These ties remained set
for an entire lifetime. The godchild was taught from a very early
age to greet his godparents with respect using the title “godfather”
(compare) or “godmother” (comare) before their names. |
|
