Ischia.it english

Death

An inevitable rite and still in use was the vigil of the deceased. Death occurred, the relatives of the deceased prepared the room for the wake. The dead man was lying on his bed wearing the dress groom, at the corners of the bed four candelabra were placed along the walls of the chairs were arranged for visitors. On the wall by the side of the head of the deceased, was spread a white sheet, the center of which stood a cross made with a black cloth.
In the month of the dead, November, knocked on the doors of the houses a man bent and emaciated pale face and red eyes, with a knapsack on his shoulder. It was the spiritiello which was to "refresh" the souls of the dead. After reciting prayers and singing long scary aching souls, gathered into his bag offers family (beans, bread, dried figs), and continued his tour.