PAPA - a short film by Dan Licata
A heartwarming story about an Italian man, Papa, and his persistent son, Nino, who has a massive sweet tooth.
Written and directed by Dan Licata
starring William Petrano as Papa
Salento in Is | 4th Episode: The Tables of Saint Joseph
Welcome all to the 4th appointment with Salento in IS videos.
Today we will talk about Saint Joseph Day and the Table of Saint Joseph, the ritual in his honour.
This ritual is very ancient, it dates back to the Middle Ages. The devotion to this Saint has always been very strong. Joseph, descendant from Davide's family, carpenter, woodworker and some more, after his family vicissitudes with Maria made pregnant by the Holy Spirit and after his doubts about their marriage and his fatherhood, overcomes any uncertainty and takes responsibility for the health of his wife, the mother of Jesus Christ, until his son's public life starts.
Saint Joseph is the protector of family, good death, family men, carpenters, woodworkers and homeless.
The Table of Saint Joseph was originally a kindness done by the noble families who invited the village poor to eat the dishes made for the occasion. The families who undertook the preparation of the Table kept a vow they had made. The table was prepared with the best tableclothes of the trousseau, which represented the hostess dowry. In the middle they put an image of the Saint and various wild flowers, in particular the purplish Acapatus servtico, which was commonly called Stick of Saint Joseph.
This type of preparation is still used today for the Tables of Saint Joseph.
The guests to the Table were at least 3 people, who represented the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary and Jesus), and could reach a maximum of 13, as the number of the dishes offered.
A lot of towns in Salento follow this tradition on 19 March, Saint Joseph Day.
Today we will talk about the Table of Saint Joseph in San Cassiano, with its 13 dishes: massa, bread, tarallini (dry bagels), pizzi cunfitti (typical Salento sweets shaped like small dumplings), fried fish, pittule (fried batter made up of flour, water and yeast), herring, dried salted cod, vermicelli ( a kind of pasta and cabbages), pasta served with fried crumb and honey, lampagioni, cauliflower and wine.
Each village has got its characteristic preparation of the Table, but there is a common dish at all the Tables: the MASSA, a dough of flour, tepid water and salt. The dough is then rolled out with the rolling-pin and becomes a thin layer which is put to dry. Once dry, it is rolled up and cut to make the TAGLIARINA (this is the name of this pasta) which is dried before cooking it. Once coked, the tagliarina is served with a sautéd mixture of oil, pepper, cinnamon and cloves. The massa is ready when it is garnished with the FRIZZULI ( a part of the tagliarina which has been fried before).
In San Cassiano this peculiar dish is offered not only to the guests of the Table, but also to all the citizens and to the tourists, during the traditional fair. In this occasion, the dishes are prepared by the several associations of the town, in particular by the Women Club that organizes the Table of Saint Joseph with fervour.
In San Cassiano, the fair ends with the lighting and blessing of a huge bonfire, in the presence of all the people, the civil and religious authorities. The bonfire is named Focara and it burns the whole night and most of the following day.
Our appointment finishes here. Thank you for your attention. Bye!*
*(the written text differs slightly from the IS text in the video).
VIDEO AND TEXT DOCUMENTATION:
“San Ciseppe a San Cazzianu”
Gal Terra d’Otranto and The Municipality of San Cassiano
DIRECTION, SCREENPLAY AND TEXTS: DONATO CATAMO PHOTOGRAPHY: PAOLO PISANELLI
EDITING: FABRIZIO BOGGI
PLANNING, COORDINATION, SUPERVISING EDITOR, TEXT ADAPTATION:
PAOLA MUSARÒ
IN COLLABORATION WITH:
MARIANNA MINONNE
ALESSIA NUZZO
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
ILARIA NUZZO
IS TRANSLATION:
CLAUDIO VERGARI
IS SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY, COMPOSITING, EDITING:
WALTER STOMEO
GRAPHIC PROJECT:
ALESSIA NUZZO
Associazione Parole in Mano
Via Silvio Pellico, 5
73030 - Marittima di Diso (LE)
C.F. 92026310752
paroleinmano.it
mail: paroleinmano@libero.it