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A Vattute e ll'astreche

Folk dance that revives the creation of the domed roof. A vattute e ll'astreche - typical Ischian dance, as in most of the Mediterranean basin, they used to build up to the 50s the roofs of houses in small barrel-shaped or hemispherical domes, called Carusiello, drawn the Greek architectural culture - Arabic. The construction was done according to standards defined, the outline was prepared with frame chestnut poles on which they were resting the "penicillin" (bundles of dried vines), the surface is covered with clay (clay or other material of lava) on which were supported the pumice stone (volcanic stones are also light but strong and compact). After this stage, the owner of the house hoisted a flag up early, it was a sign that family, friends, neighbors, classmates were called to gather up, ... well almost the entire country was involved and happy to contribute to the final realization of the new house. Everyone who attended brought with them a strut pole of poplar with a larger part, this tool was used to compress the lapilli wet lime white living up to make it waterproof. This enormous effort lasted for three days, day and night without interruption. The puntunari to alleviate these huge labors, sang told stories, nursery rhymes, ... usually those who could play any instrument, flocked.

The houses now are built of reinforced concrete, a different story between illegal and devastation of our land, fortunately this tradition is revived with this folk dance and for us that dance it seems that we build a house, given the enthusiasm and passion that we put into this dance. The dance sequences are as follows: it starts with a propitiatory song: Jesc sole, then saluta allu padron, to reach the gossip prince of our country that Nu sacce che succise a Murupane. The master mason, in order not to lose the rhythm repeats from time to time: one, two three, if someone lost the rhythm, since they all had the same names, the head master called them by nickname and these join at a rate of others, if drinking and eating were slow in coming it was customary to remember the wickedness with a song: all of them sing miezziurn SUNAT. Then some rhyme to get a new toast, this time quoting the vegetables. Following the hymn of puntunari Sartulella ending with the Tarantella lu Ceras. Once completed the roof it used to throw the grain from time to time to avoid the appearance of small cracks. Meanwhile, the women, took delight in the kitchen preparing delicious dishes and loved by all.

The puntunari after three days were happy, because finally they ate well and plentiful, all flocked to this final dinner, no one had economic compensation for this work. The dishes, required and desired, were Cave Rabbits stewed in a tomato, wine and herb sauce and the zeppole (doughnut traditionally made at Carnival typical of Southern Italy). The cave rabbit with the "chienga" was killed and left in the wind for one night, the next day was cut and browned in pork fat with garlic cloves, once it reaches the pink color you put the white wine and add the inner wrapped around the parsley, pepper and other spices, just was going to wear the white wine is added the tomatoes and basil prunnella or pointed. The rabbit was cooked in shards of clay and wood. The sauce that was obtained was used to season the pasta. Zeppole, naturally leavened for hours after mixing, once grown were cooked in hot oil and took on many different shapes, once cooked they threw on a layer of sugar. The men commented on the dishes and expressed their opinions on the food, all washed down with wine production (the house owner) made from grapes biancolella, zi bacco and Forastera white wine, while red was made with grapes foot red, Guarnaccia, cammamele, ... After the great feast we started to dance (tammurriate and tarantella) and sing for a whole day with a parade of boats or baskets full of zeppole. People were happy because another fellow had managed to build a roof and then the nest where prosperity to the family. Our wish is to buy a house in Carusiello and turn it into a museum of rural civilization therefore we ask you all to help us to realize this dream that allows us to protect a heritage that is slowly disappearing. Dance of the Folklore school.