Halloween in itself is not exactly an Italic celebration, but in the province of Lucca gloomy legends of sinister characters are handed down from father to son since time immemorial. So Streghi, witches, demonic pacts and Linchetti characterize Lucca and the Garfagnana above ground making it magical and mysterious..
So it is not hard to link these ancient tales of evil beings to the traditional night of the witches celebrated around the world every October 31 and revived thanks to the charm of this legendary night all fears of our ancestors.
The Devil is familiar with these areas, especially the Lima valley and the small town of Borgo a Mozzano where in ancient times a famous architect asked its help in the construction of the characteristic three-arched bridge. His home, you know, is a bit higher up on the “Balzo Nero”, a very dark hill, where fall lightening during strong storms, perhaps because of its mining shape, or more probably because of the frightening wrath of the Demon that easily breaks. From here observe the swarms of witches who gather on the “bridge of the devil” and migrate riding their broomsticks to “prato fiorito”, where gather herbs useful for evil potions.
The tradition of the carved pumpkin originates in that valleys, it is said that arises from a method devised by coal miners, to take revenge of the pranks suffered every night by a prankster neighbor. This such, named Romito, used to frighten those who traveled the road at night or working in the vicinity of the Romitato for making charcoal. One night some of those charcoal-burner that he had frightened several times, procured ten large pumpkins that emptied carefully and carved to make them look scary faces of demons. Then inserted lit candles and arranged them around the charcoal kiln. Shortly after midnight, the loggers could hear the joker Romito scared approaching the hut and stop in front of their faces monstrous with fiery eyes and toothless mouths wide open and as many hot ovens.
(fonte: linchetto 4, 350 leggende di paura e tradizioni popolari fra Ponte a Serraglio e l’Orridio di Botri, Carlo Gabrielli Rosi)
Not only fear, however, because for alleviate and warm up a bit in these cold nights prelude to winter, we recommend a traditional recipe, which has as its protagonist the pumpkin. So ‘the cream of pumpkin”, that chef Maurizio Marsili of Vigna Ilaria taught us, and we will report it here, wishing you a sweet and scary Halloween..
PUMPKIN SOUP
What is necessary
pumpkin, potatoes (in 3/2 ratio), leek, olive oil, salt, pepper
how do you make
clean the vegetables and make not too small pieces.
Get them to cook without water, in a pot with a pinch of salt used to squeeze out the water from the vegetables and facilitate the cooking.
Cook them for about 25′. When they are ready, if there is excess water drain the vegetables and conserves the water. Mix the vegetables with the pimer and when you have finished adjust the density with the water that was kept aside. Adjust with salt and oil.
Serve with a garnish of braschetta’s leaves fries.
The leaves of braschetta to be fried with success, must be fresh: the water contained in the leaves reacts with the oil and make them crispy in the right way.
Maurizio Marsili
EVENTS: you also mention the events of the Province of Lucca for the night .. scary!
HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION at Borgo a Mozzano, the bigger Halloween celebration in Italy,the longest night of The hamlet of the Devil bridge.
HALLOWEEN IN CARDOSO at Stazzema, loc. Cardoso, a spectral party that involves all the village.
HALLOWEEN IN SERAVEZZA Seravezza, Palazzo Mediceo,an afternoon of games, a night of scary…
HALLOWEEN NEL PAESE DI MONTEMAGNO, trick or treat? for all the children in the square of the village.
MONTECHARLOWEEN an evening of entertainment, thrills and emotions with spectral music, a monstrous show, and lots of games for children.
SPECTRALIA HALLOWEEN PARTY Viareggio, Cittadella del Carnevale – la Cittadella del Carnevale di Viareggio transform in a thriller set.
THE PHANTOM’S HALLOWEEN NIGHT Viareggio, Fraz. Torre del Lago Puccini – masked party with happy hour, entertainment, performances e dances