CORIGLIANO-ROSSANO – The night between 23 and 24 June has always been considered one magical night, and it is no coincidence that propitiatory and purifying rites are celebrated precisely during this night. Magic is related to summer solstice, which marks the beginning of the new beautiful season and falls on the longest day of the year. In this period nature reaches the maximum of its splendor and, tradition has it, that it prepares itself during this magical night “the water of San Giovanni” which, again according to legends, would have incredible healing and beneficial properties.
From sunset on June 23rd, different types of flowers are collected, but also different varieties of aromatic herbs, which will make up the beneficial water, known in many Italian regions, including Calabria, as “the water of San Giovanni”. (full recipe here). Once collected, after sunset, herbs and flowers must be placed in a basin with water, and they must be left outside the house all night, so that they can absorb the morning dew, capable of giving them their healing properties. In fact, it is believed that “the dew of the Gods” falls during the night of Saint John.
The next morning the scented water is used to wash hands and face, in a sort of propitiatory and purification ritual capable of bringing love, luck and health.
With regard to our RegionCalabria, there is also a particular occasion linked to this ritual: “And cummari du bunch”. We discover it by reading the blog of Mirella, a Calabrian mother and grandmother passionate about cooking, who writes: «It was in use between little girls who loved each other, to become even better friends they became “cummari du mazzettu”. Now I’ll explain, flowers were picked, the most beautiful ones were chosen including St. John’s wort, a beautiful bouquet was made, arranging it festively with a ribbon, a little gift was prepared which could be an embroidered handkerchief, a small perfume, or whatever, gifts of no pretension, it had to be a small thing that came from the heart. She would arrange the bouquet of flowers and the little gift and take it to her best friend. The other girl, if she accepted, after a few days, precisely on June 29th, the day of Saints Peter and Paul, reciprocated in the same way. From that moment, she became “u sangiuanni”, as well as friends she became “cummari”. In this way the friendship, affection and respect was strengthened and lasted a lifetime.”
Stories from times gone by that remind us how rich our beautiful land is in legends, traditions and propitiatory rites.
(sources: The history of art, between myths and legends; In the kitchen with Mire)
