Collelongo – We receive a special report by some citizens of Collelongo, readers of our newspaper. Everything revolves around aancient tradition linked to the Catholic holiday of St. John Baptist. In the Marsican town, in the night between 23 and 24 Juneas in many places in Abruzzo, and beyond, are repeated old rites have become part of the customs also for young generations.
On the occasion of St. John’s Day, in Collelongo, some are created wooden crosses covered with hemlock stems, leaves and flowers. As we all know, the hemlock it’s a’poisonous and dangerous grass. When broken or touched, it also gives off a nauseating odor, Very annoying. Hemlock-covered crosses were once placed next to the girl’s house which had refused a loving offer or that he had given false hopes to some suitor. A form of mild “revenge”if we can say so, to express one’s own disappointment when faced with rejection.
Over time, however, this tradition which, until a few decades ago, could have had its own symbolic valueit was almost entirely emptied of meaning. Currently, in fact, the cross covered with hemlockwhich is prepared on the night of San Giovanni, between 23 and 24 June, is placed next to the homes of girls who, for some reason, they are not “appreciated”.
As our readers explain to us, it currently happens that a young woman finds herself there hemlock cross in front of the front door just because maybe not “perfect” or because it was judged unfriendly or because it is considered “inadequate” somehow. It seems that the tradition is degrading into a form of abuse or bullying: the hemlock cross is now used as an instrument of I mock and of derision towards certain young people.
There are those who defends with drawn sword this particular ritual, typical of Collelongo, minimizing the meaning that today, as we are told, the placing hemlock crosses in front of some girls’ homes. Times have changed, it is evident, but perhaps, in this circumstance, it would be appropriate go back to the old or even eliminate certain traditions if maintaining them involves an act of lack of respect you hate arrogance. Current society is more sensitive to issues such as valorization of women. In light of this, it is legitimate to ask whether it is still appropriate to perpetuate a custom that, for some, represents a form of humiliation or, in some ways, of threat.
