Castannove\ Castel Frentano

Imagine it read by a “castellino” who, when he speaks, sings—and forgive me for a few mistakes...

How lovely you are to look at, right now a tear is welling up for you and I’d really like to hug you! Seeing you from afar moves me too, for all the fellow villagers you bring to mind; they left a mark inside my heart, like when Love made itself felt.
When I go away I always think of you, and when I’m coming back, from inside the car I start to get restless and I can’t wait to arrive. I fix my eyes from up on the bridge and a smile appears, as if I’d just seen Paradise. If I start thinking, how many things come back to me!
Here I was born and I can’t forget them.
This time has been hard, but you taught me that no one here must ever give up. This illness shut us in at home, without even work, but thank goodness we’re together with family.
The streets were deserted, you couldn’t even go for a walk, only out to shop for food. From the window you wouldn’t see a soul go by, only loneliness would come to find you. There’s more than one reason, and I already understood it.
We couldn’t even say goodbye to the people who died, but now I don’t want to think about it, otherwise my heart starts to pound and my hands to shake.
I’d like to meet the good people, to at least greet them, since we can’t kiss them.
Here it’s the custom, because good manners must never be missing. The “castellino” likes to eat, drink and joke around, and whatever he says, it always sounds like he’s singing. He’s a character you can’t forget, and he’ll give you loads of laughs. He’s kind and courteous and he’ll even do your shopping. He likes to do “mattità”, but if you come to live here, you might fall in love. At his house he’ll surely let you in, because he likes being together and hosting, but the granny will ask you whose child you are. And the first thing he’ll make you taste is a sweet, the best there is.
Everyone’s tried to make it again, but the original was born here and only we know how to do it. It’s a secret we can’t teach you, because we’re afraid you might steal it. The bocconotto—you can learn it only if you marry here. We can give you our good heart, but don’t think about the recipe.
Company, for sure, you won’t miss. The gossips, leaning out at the window, will watch you, and you may meet the bad ones too—but every place is the same, so you’ll have to make do.
What are you waiting for? When covid goes away, come visit us. I’m sure you’ll like it!
Daniela Di Piero Rulli

Translation

How beautiful you are to look at—right now a tear is coming out and I’d really like to hug you!
Seeing you from afar moves me. When I go away I always think of you, and when I’m about to arrive, from inside the car I start to get agitated because I can’t wait to see you. When I look at you from afar my eyes light up and a smile appears, as if I had seen paradise. You bring back so many memories! I was born here and I could never forget you.
This moment has been painful, but you taught me that no one must ever give up. This illness shut us in at home without even a job, but together with the family. The streets are deserted; from the window you don’t see a single soul walking by. Only loneliness comes to visit you. There’s more than one reason and I already understood it. We couldn’t even give a last goodbye to the dead, but I don’t want to think about it, otherwise my heart starts to pound and my hands to shake. I’d like to meet the good people, to at least greet them, since we can’t kiss. Here it’s the custom because good manners must never be missing.
The “castellino” likes to eat, drink and joke around, and when he speaks it seems like he sings. He’s a character you can’t forget and he’ll make you laugh a lot. He’s kind and courteous and he’ll even do your shopping. He likes to do “mattità”, but if you come to live here you can’t help falling in love with it. At his house he’ll surely let you in because he likes being with people, he’s hospitable, but the granny will ask whose child you are. The first thing he’ll make you taste is a sweet, the best there is.
Everyone has tried to remake it, but the original was born here and only we know how to make it. It’s a secret we don’t want to teach you because we’re afraid you’ll steal it from us. The bocconotto—only if you marry here will you be able to learn it. We’ll give you our heart, but don’t even think about the recipe.
You’ll never lack company. The gossips lean out of the windows to watch, and you’ll meet bad people here too, but every place is the same, so be content.
What are you waiting for? When covid goes away, come visit us. I’m sure you’ll like it!
Daniela Di Piero Rulli

It came out like this, in an instant, during lockdown, while I was looking at the photo I took in 2017.
I apologize for the mistakes. The dialect is the 5th language I sort of speak, so I’m sure you’ll understand. The home of childhood always has a place in the heart. This enchanted little village is mine. Famous for one of the best sweets in the world, the bocconotto, for its slightly crazy, fun and welcoming people, and for its sing-song dialect. Here, when we talk, we sing.
I told you we’re pranksters, and you notice it as soon as we open our mouths. We say and do a lot of “mattità”. We’re way too funny when we chat in dialect. You should listen to us.
When I went abroad, everyone was fascinated by my accent. All Italians sing and gesture, but the “castellini” a bit more. You recognize us by listening to us and seeing us from afar. We’re already funny because we sing; then if you have at least one friend from here, you already know how unhinged he is. He’s a character, for sure. Crazy but with a big heart. Odd but kind and generous. He loves eating, drinking and having fun in company. He’s hospitable. Of course there are exceptions here too. Granny lived in America for many years, but then she came back here. She always said: The gossips and the bad ones are everywhere; every place is the same. You go with those who are better than you, be kind, courteous, and even do the shopping!