Badalisc: Camunian folklore - Part II

'Baldalisc' from ILoveIndia.com

Badalisc, a popular Christmas character from Italy, came into existence in the 16th century and became very famous. Scroll further for more information on this Italian Christmas character.


Badalisc

Have you ever heard about character of Christmas, Badalisc? Considered to be a mythological character whose origins lie in Val Camonica, Italy, Badalisc belongs to the southern central Alps. This scamp is believed to have a very unusual appearance with a big head, two horns, a gigantic mouth and bright shining eyes. It is said to wear goat skin to cover his entire body. During Christmas, while the annual town festival is being held, the person dressed like Badalisc is seized and brought to the town.

Towards the end of the festival, the creature is released and people eagerly wait for the ceremony next year. Though Badalisc reveals the gossips of the community and annoys everyone, its main aim is to prevent people from performing bad deeds. This ritual is quite similar to that of Bosinada, Bosinade or Businade, which is a satirical performance of a prose, song or poetry. Right from the 16th century, this ritual has been performed throughout northern Italy.


Badalisc - Legends and Myths

* Badalisc, also known as 'Badalisk', is a mythological character found in the southern central Alps. He is said to hail from Val Camonica and, today, it is characterized as a creature with an enormous head, shining eyes and a huge mouth; it dresses up in goat skin.

* According to the legend, this animal, which lives in the woods of Andrista, is captured by the villagers during Ephiphany, i.e. January 5 and 6. Badalisc is then tied with a rope and dragged into the village, accompanied by musicians and various masked characters. These characters include 'il giovane' (the young man), 'la vecchia' (the old woman), 'il vecchio' (the old man) along with the young signorina, who is "bait" for the animal's hunger.

* Some bearded shepherds also follow the crowd. And while some witches beat drums, a hunchback involves in a rustic duel with the creature. According to the tradition, only men take part in this ritual although some of them are dressed as women. This is because during the early times, women were forbidden from participating in any exhibitions and were not allowed to either see or hear the Badalisc's speech. Women who did hear the speech or took part in the "seize" were denied permission to attend the Holy Communion, which was held the following day.

* Badalisc's speech includes gossips about the community and is now interpreted in rhymes. Its speech is believed to reveal all the sins and the shrewdness of the community and the hunchback bangs his stick rhythmically in regular intervals during the speech.

* Followed by the speech, there is singing, dancing and feasting during which the community enjoys Badalisc polenta, a special curd sausage which is the traditional dish of the village. Until recent times, the village children used to from house to house, begging for money to get cornmeal for the polenta. During the feast, Badalisc enjoys a special place of honor.

* Towards the end of the exhibition, on the second day, Badalisc is freed and allowed to go back to the woods.

So, everybody, be careful and stay away from intentionally indulging in an ill-deed or else, you would hear Badalisc blurt it before the entire community.

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Badalisc: Camunian folklore - Part 1

Badalisc

The Badalisc (also Badalisk) is a mythical creature of the Val Camonica, in the southern central Alps. The Badalisc is represented today as a creature with a big head covered with a goat skin, two small horns, a huge mouth and glowing eyes.



The celebration

According to legend the Badalisc lives in the woods around the village of Andrista (commune of Cevo) and is supposed to annoy the community: each year it is captured during the period of Epiphany (5 & 6 January) and led on a rope into the village by musicians and masked characters, including il giovane (the young man), il vecchio (the old man), la vecchia (the old woman) and the young signorina, who is "bait" for the animal's lust. There are also some old witches, who beat drums, and bearded shepherds, and a hunchback (un torvo gobetto) who has a "rustic duel" with the animal. Traditionally only men take part, although some are dressed as women. In ancient times women were prohibited from participating in the exhibition, or even to see or hear the Badalisc's Speech; if they did so they would be denied Holy Communion the following day.

In the village square (formerly in a stable) the Badalisc's speech (la 'ntifunada) is read, in which the mythological animal gossips about the community. The Badalisc itself is a dumb creature, so the speech, nowadays written in rhyme, is read by an "interpreter". Once improvised, now written in advance, the speech reveals all the supposed sins and scheming of the community. During the speech the hunchback bangs his stick rhythmically at intervals.

The speech is followed by singing, dancing and feasting. In the evening the community eats the "Badalisc polenta" (a commercial version of this traditional food was launched in 2010). Until recently, village children would beg from house to house during the Badalisc celebrations for cornmeal to make the polenta; a Badalisc salami was also specially made for them. The badalisc has place of honour at the feasts.

On the second day, at the end of the exhibition, the Badalisc is set free and allowed to return to the woods.


Related customs

The ritual has strong similarities with the Bosinada, Bosinade or Businade, satirical performances of prose, poetry or song, in which a storyteller (the Bosin) denounced the misdeeds of the community. Known from the 16th century, these were once widespread throughout northern Italy and derived from the purification rituals of New Year's Eve.

Any link between the Badalisk of Andrista and the mythical Basilisk (half lizard, half serpent, with a head like a cat, but squarer, like a toad) that incinerates everything on which it rests its gaze (well known in Cevo and elsewhere in northern Italy) is unclear.

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