Nell’ambito dell’insegnamento della lingua inglese si è tratto spunto dalle feste in maschera diffuse nei paesi di interesse disciplinare. Partendo da un confronto con “Halloween”, festività antica e popolare dei paesi anglofoni che si è tanto diffusa anche in Italia e nel mondo, si è passati a raccontare il Carnevale italiano attraverso la presentazione delle principali maschere regionali tradizionali. In particolare si è approfondita quella partenopea di Pulcinella.
Il lavoro ha avuto ricadute positive in quanto, trattandosi di due festività molto sentite dai ragazzi di questa fascia di età, ha visto una partecipazione spontanea ed un impegno attivo di tutti gli allievi e le allieve, sia nelle attività di tipo laboratoriale che di ricerca ed elaborazione dei testi. Soddisfacente la competenza lessicale e comunicativa acquisita.
Il prodotto ha ricevuto il Premio Calasanzio – XVII edizione “Italia e regioni: costumi e tradizioni popolari a confronto”.
Halloween is celebrated on the night of October 31°. The word Halloween comes from All Hallows Eve (All Saints Eve). The origin of the festival traces back to an old Celtic tradition. The Celts believed that ghosts and witches came back to earth at the end of the summer and they dressed up to frighten them. The Celtic custom later became an amusing opportunity for a holiday in England and was brought to the United States by the
English settlers. The most typical symbol of Halloween is Jack o’lantern.
They are placed outside most houses to scare the evil spirits away.
Jack-o’ lanterns are made by carving out pumpkins and placing a candle inside which shines through the eyes and mouth of a carved face.
According to a legend Jack was an Irish man condemned to wander over the earth forever, carrying a lantern, because of his mania for playing pranks. On the night of October 31st children dress up as goblins, skeletons, ghosts and all sorts of frightening monsters. They go from house to house calling for a “trick or treat”. In the last few years the holiday has become more and more popular in France, in Italy and everywhere in the world.
Carnival in Italy (Carnevale) celebrates the end of winter and the coming spring season. The origin of the name Carnevale probabily comes from the Italian “carne levare” or similar, meaning “to remove meat”, since meat is prohibited during Lent.
The Carnevale traditions reach back to pre-Christian times. The ancient Roman festivals of the Saturnalia (in honor of the God of agriculture and harvest Saturn) and Bacchanalia (in honour are a probable origin of the Italian Carnevale. During the Middle Ages the Church, after many unsuccessfull attempts to eradicate the festival, decided to assimilate Carnevale into the Christian calendar as the last festival before Lent. From Italy, Carnevale traditions spread to many countries in Europe and all over the world.
Carnevale is still now one of the most popular festival in Italy. It involves public celebrations, parades, and public streets parties. Children and adults dress up with traditional and modern masks and a variety of parties are scheduled in every Italian town. There are many parades with very elaborate floats, bands, and of course anybody who wants to join in. Children blow Stelle filanti: strings of paper rolled up in circles or carry around bags of colored paper confetti which they throw at people. Among the most famous we remember the Carnevale of Venice and Viareggio. The traditional disguises and masks come, mainly, from the characters of “Commedia dell’Arte”.
The most famous are: Arlecchino, Pulcinella, Brighella, Pantalone, Scaramuccia, Tartaglia, Balanzone, Gianduia.
Pulcinella is from Naples. Pulcinella, is a classical character that originated in the commedia dell’arte of the 17th century. He is a dwarfish humpback with a crooked nose. He’s portrayed as pitiable, helpless, and physically disguised. His personality can be foolish or sly and shrewd.
The mask of Pulcinella abounds with historical, artistic and cultural significance, but it is also a vehicle of social denunciation. The mask symbolises in fact the Neapolitan populace fighting back against the constant abuse and humiliation it must endure from the ruling class. So, since Pulcinella is the soul of the lower class he reflects their will for revenge. Through the use of irony and force he makes fun of authority underlining his will to live and overcome all obstacles. Ever white dressed and black masked (hence conciliating the opposites of life and death).
Arlecchino is from Bergamo. He is one of the most famous character. He is an acrobat and a wit, childlike and amorous. He wears a cat–like mask and motley colored clothes and carries a bat or wooden sword. Arlecchino is often the servant of Pantalone. He is in love with Colombina but she only makes fun of him.
Brighella is from Bergamo. He is Arlecchino’s crony, more roguish and sophisticated, a cowardly villain who would do anything for money. He is essentially Arlecchino’s smarter older brother.
Pantalone is from Venice. He is a caricature of the Venetian merchant, rich and greedy, mean and miserly, with a young wife or an adventurous daughter. His costume usually has got a long bird and a red pants.
Pedrolino (Pierrot) was a white–faced, moon–struck dreamer and the forerunner of today’s clown.
Scaramuccia is from Naples. He is dressed in black and carrying a pointed sword. He is usually portrayed as a buffoon or a coward.
Colombina is from Venice. She’s the female counterpart of Arlecchino. She is also a servant. She is clever, crafty, and untamed. Her costume often has the same coloured patches found in Arlecchino’s outfit.
Tartaglia is from Naples. He is short sighted with a terrible stutter. Appears in many scenarios as one of the lovers. His social status varies: he’s sometimes a bailiff, lawyer, notary or chemists.
Balanzone is from Bologna. He is one of the “vecchi” or old men, obstacle to the young lovers. Aristocrats/or doctor of medicine or law. He claims to know a lot of things.
Gianduia is from Turin.The mask depicts an honest peasant of Piemontese countryland, with a certain inclination for wine, gastronomy and beautiful girls
There were many other minor characters, some of which were associated with a particular region of Italy such as Peppe Nappa (Sicily), Gianduia (Turin), Stenterello (Tuscany), Rugantino (Rome), and Meneghino (Milan).
