A
parent with his children at the sliding races on St.
Lucy’s |
|
| On
December 13, it was customary for adults and youths,
children included, to hold sliding races. |
| These
took place at the rear of the little church of St. Lucy,
where, before the road was macadamized, there was a
narrow cow path, and at its border, the steep slope
of Mt. Calvary (at that time with a 60-70% incline). |
| People
would place a 2 or 4-cent piece, or even half a lira,
in a small crack in the soil. |
| The
more daring would slide on their belly so that they
could seize the coins with their mouth, which the finder
could keep (when no one succeeded in the endeavor, the
coins were reclaimed by the original owner). |
| Also,
at the edge of the path, it was customary to hang a
turkey or a lamb from a pole, to be won by anyone who
could hit the target (each shot cost 3 soldi), but if
no one succeeded, the animal was reclaimed by the original
owner. |
| On
this feast day music was provided by the usual trio:
Vincenzo Onorato, drum, his brother Pasquale, bass drum,
and another youngster, brass plates. |
|
