Italian magical folklore
Benandanti, janare, munaciello, amulets and folk beliefs of the Italian regions, between history and anthropology.
Anguane and the Wild Man: Creatures of the Italian Alps
The anguane, water women of the Alpine valleys from the Veneto to Trentino, and the wild man who taught people to make cheese: figures, tales and meaning.
The Apennine Sibyl and Lake Pilato: Legends of the Sibillini
The Sibyl's cave and Lake Pilato in the Sibillini Mountains: Guerrin Meschino, Antoine de La Sale's journey, necromancers and the Pilate legend.
The Befana: History and Symbols of the Epiphany Old Woman
Who the Befana is: a name from Epiphany, the legend of the Magi, stocking and coal, the panevin bonfires and the burning of the old woman in Italy.
The Benandanti of Friuli: Night Battles and the Inquisition
Who the Friulian benandanti were: born with the caul, they went out in spirit on Ember Days to defend the harvest. History, trials and Ginzburg's reading.
The Cimaruta: The Neapolitan Amulet Shaped Like a Sprig of Rue
The cimaruta, a Neapolitan silver amulet shaped like a sprig of rue: the symbols on its branches, rue in tradition, Elworthy's description and its meaning.
The Snake Catchers of Cocullo: Saint Dominic's Serpent Feast
Saint Dominic's feast at Cocullo, Abruzzo: the serpari, the statue wrapped in snakes, the relics, the little bell and ancient roots among the Marsi.
The Evil Eye in Italian Folk Belief: History and Practices
Malocchio as an Italian folk belief: from the envy of the ancients to the oil-in-water test, the Christmas Eve formulas and how it differs from jettatura.
Ex Voto in Italy: The History of «Grace Received» Offerings
Ex voto from ancient Rome to Italian sanctuaries: anatomical votives, painted PGR panels, silver hearts, the Montenero and Madonna dell'Arco collections.
Fata Morgana over the Strait of Messina: Mirage and Legend
The Fata Morgana of the Strait of Messina: the mirage explained by optics, Morgan the fairy brought south by the Normans, and King Arthur in Etna.
Horns and Fig Hand: Italian Apotropaic Gestures
Horns, the fig and other Italian luck-warding gestures: meaning, ancient origins, the fig hand in Dante and Roman amulets, and why gestures protect.
Babau, the Black Man and Marabbecca: Italy's Childhood Bogeymen
The bogeymen of Italian childhood: the babau, the black man, the Marabbecca of Sicilian wells, the Borda of the Po valley fog. Function and meaning.
Italian Household Sprites: Massariol, Linchetto, Scazzamurieddhu
Italy's house sprites: the Venetian massariol, the Tuscan linchetto, the mazzamurello, the Salentine scazzamurieddhu. Shared traits, pranks, meaning.
The Janare and the Walnut Tree of Benevento: a Legend's History
The janare, witches of Samnium, and the walnut of Benevento: from the Lombard cult ended by Saint Barbatus to the trials and threshold beliefs.
Krampus and Saint Nicholas: Night of the Devils in the Italian Alps
The Krampus of South Tyrol and Tarvisio: horned masks, furs and cowbells following Saint Nicholas on 5 and 6 December. Origins, rite and meaning.
Mamuthones and Issohadores: The Archaic Masks of Mamoiada
The masks of Mamoiada, Sardinia: black-faced Mamuthones with cowbells, Issohadores with their rope, the Saint Anthony outing and theories of origin.
Matteuccia of Todi: The 1428 Trial and the Walnut of Benevento
The trial of Matteuccia di Francesco at Todi in 1428: the charges, the ointment formula for flying to the walnut of Benevento, Bernardino's preaching.
The Munaciello of Naples: Spirit of Houses and Wells
The munaciello, a small hooded spirit of Neapolitan tradition: pranks and gifts, the well-cleaners theory, Matilde Serao's version, the rule of silence.
The Neapolitan Lucky Horn: History of an Amulet
The red cornicello of Naples: symbolic origins, the traditional rules (gifted, red, hollow, pointed), Torre del Greco coral and the gesture's meaning.
The Roman Fascinum: Ancient Roots of Italian Amulets
The fascinum in ancient Rome: amulets for children, the bulla, the tintinnabula of Pompeii and Pliny's testimony. Ancient roots of folk protection.
Saint Anthony the Abbot's Bonfires: Fire, Animals and the Fòcara
17 January and Saint Anthony the Abbot's bonfires: the Fòcara of Novoli, the farchie of Fara Filiorum Petri, the blessing of animals, fire as symbol.
Saint Joseph's Tables: Altars, Votive Breads and the «Saints»
19 March in Sicily, Apulia and Calabria: Saint Joseph's altars and tables, the votive breads of Salemi and the poor who play the Holy Family.
Saint Lucy: The Night of Gifts, Cuccìa and Saint Lucy's Eye
Saint Lucy's traditions on 13 December: gifts in northern Italy, cuccìa in Palermo, the amulet called Saint Lucy's eye and the shortest day there is.
The Sicilian Day of the Dead: Gifts, Martorana and Sugar Puppets
In Sicily on 2 November the dead bring children gifts: martorana fruit, sugar puppets, ossa di morto and the cannistru. History and meaning.
Triora and the Witch Trials: The Famine of 1587
Triora, a Ligurian village, and the witch trials of 1587-1589: the famine, the accusations, the Genoese commissioner and how the village remembers.
The Werewolf in Italian Folklore: The History of a Fear
The Italian lupo mannaro from Petronius to southern peasant belief: birth on Christmas night, the full moon, traditional remedies and their meaning.