Italy Revisited by Mary Melfi

Weddings
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Casacalenda, Molise, Italy

Date: 1945

Notes: This picture was taken when Giovanna (nee Ferrara) Melfi (the contributor's mother) got engaged. It was the first photo ever taken of her.

Contributed by: Mary Melfi

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Casacalenda, Molise, Italy

Date: 1945

Notes: This is Giuseppe Melfi's engagement picture.

Contributed by: Mary Melfi

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Casacalenda, Molise, Italy

Date: April 1947

Notes: Here is a portrait of the contributor's parents, Giovanna Ferrara and Giuseppe Melfi, taken 8 days after their wedding. As was then the tradition newly-weds were given two major receptions. The first was given on the day the couple married. This reception was paid for by the groom's family. The second reception was called the "risciro for" party -- loosely translated as "the coming out" party. It was known as a "coming-out" party because the newly-weds were supposed to have stayed in their home for the first week after they married. During this week they were not supposed to go out, they were expected to stay in and be available for guests who inevitably dropped by and brought them their wedding gifts. On the 8th day, which always fell on a Sunday, the couple went out of their homes for the first time, and, of course, they went to church. Here they met their relatives and neighbours and were congratulated. On this day it was customary for the bride to wear a stylish black dress. Well, at least it was so in Molise. In some other parts of Italy, the bride often wore a dark blue or brown dress. In any case, after Church, the relatives formed a procession and followed the bride to her mother's house. The "risciro for" celebrations were such a vital part of the wedding tradition in Italy that the contributor's grandfather sold his beloved donkey to pay for them. For the next ten years the poor man had to carry his piles of firewood and other goods over his shoulders as he no longer had a donkey to help him transport his goods. The commute from his farm house to his house in town took over two hours, so it must have been quite a challenge. The man never complained about the cost of his daughter's "coming out" party. Such was the power of tradition, and Italians' commitment "to do what had to be done."

Contributed by: Mary Melfi

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