{"id":3080,"date":"2014-06-13T08:20:45","date_gmt":"2014-06-13T06:20:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rickzullo.com\/?p=3080"},"modified":"2021-09-11T23:20:47","modified_gmt":"2021-09-11T21:20:47","slug":"superstitions-in-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/superstitions-in-italy\/","title":{"rendered":"Superstitions in Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"superstitions<\/a>
Wiki: “Sexual symbols distract the witch from the mental effort needed to bestow the evil eye.”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here I am again with my partners in expat blogger debauchery, tackling the tricky topic of superstitions in Italy.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t a new topic for me\u2014I\u2019ve been fascinated with Italian superstitions ever since my first random encounter<\/a> with them several years ago.\u00a0 At one point, I was even Google\u2019s golden boy on the subject, ranking #1, and proving beyond a reasonable doubt that their algorithms have about as much credible science as, well, superstitions.<\/p>\n

But this will make for a fun group discussion, especially since: 1) today is Friday the 13th<\/sup>, and; 2) the Mondiale<\/em> (World Cup) started this week, so fans all over Italy will be rubbing their cornicelli <\/em>and grabbing their family jewels (or is it the other way around?) in order to ward off the dreaded <\/a>malocchio<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Without further ado, let\u2019s talk about a few superstitions in Italy.\u00a0 And as we\u2019ll see once again, the line between superstition and religion is often a blurry one in the Bel Paese.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Superstitions in Italy regarding numbers<\/h2>\n

It may surprise you to know that 13 is actually a LUCKY number in Italy, while 17 is considered unlucky.\u00a0 Indeed, Friday the 17th is considered an unlucky day because it was on that day Philip the Fair gave the order to kill the Templars.<\/p>\n

The number 17 is even considered unlucky for the way it\u2019s written. \u00a0When 17 is written using the Roman numerals XVII, it can be rearranged to spell the Latin word VIXI meaning \u201cI have lived,\u201d presumably implying \u201cI am now dead,\u201d since it was found on many Roman tombstones.<\/p>\n

However, even in Italy 13 people at the dinner table doesn\u2019t bode well. (Remember what happened to the \u201c13th guest\u201d at the Last Supper?)<\/p>\n

Speaking of lucky numbers, too bad we don\u2019t have an expat in Naples among our brood.\u00a0 I\u2019d love to hear a full explanation of the book of smorfia napoletana<\/a><\/em>, used for both dream interpretation and playing the lottery.\u00a0 But at least I DO know that if you dream of the number 29, you MUST go buy a ticket right away.\u00a0 O cazz\u2019! <\/em>(Or should I say, \u201cO\u2019 padre \u2018e criature\u201d<\/em>?)<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at a few other numbers of interest, translated first into Italian<\/em>, and then English:<\/p>\n

6<\/strong>: Chella ca guarda n’terra; \u00a0Quella che guarda per terra;<\/em> \u00a0She who looks down (in other words, the vagina)<\/p>\n

13<\/strong>: Sant\u2019 Antonio; \u00a0Sant\u2019 Antonio;<\/em> \u00a0Saint Anthony (whose birthday we celebrate today!)<\/p>\n

14<\/strong>: O\u2019mbriaco; L\u2019ubriaco;<\/em>\u00a0 The drunk<\/p>\n

16<\/strong>: O\u2019 culo; Il culo;<\/em>\u00a0 The butt<\/p>\n

17<\/strong>: A\u2019 disgrazzie;\u00a0 La sfortuna;<\/em>\u00a0 Bad luck<\/p>\n

21<\/strong>: A\u2019 femmena annura;\u00a0 La femmina nuda;<\/em>\u00a0 The naked woman<\/p>\n

28<\/strong>: E\u2019 zizze;\u00a0 Le tette;\u00a0<\/em> The boobs<\/p>\n

29<\/strong>: O\u2019 padre \u2018e criature;\u00a0 Il padre delle creature\/bambini;<\/em> \u00a0The father of the creatures\/children (in other words, the penis)<\/p>\n

Have we noticed a disproportionate preference to sexual body parts?<\/p>\n

48<\/strong>: O\u2019 muorto che parla;\u00a0 Il morto che parla;<\/em>\u00a0 The talking dead<\/p>\n

71<\/strong>: L\u2019ommo ‘e merda; \u00a0L\u2019uomo di merda;<\/em>\u00a0 The shitty man (the man barely worth being called \u201ca man;\u201d in other words, someone who has squealed to the police.)<\/p>\n

So if you dream of any of these things tonight, refer to the book and play the corresponding lottery numbers as soon as possible. Or not.<\/p>\n

Sports (meaning ONLY soccer) Superstitions in Italy<\/h2>\n

Athletes in every sport and from every country enthusiastically embrace superstition, and Italian soccer players are certainly no exception.\u00a0 No saint or supernatural force is too strange or embarrassing to invoke in the name of victory.\u00a0 In Italy, perhaps the country most steeped in Catholicism, players and fans alike seem to believe that God wants them to win.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not a religious person, but if I were, I think I would assume that God has bigger issues on his mind than the outcome of a silly game.\u00a0 Grown men being paid ridiculous sums of money to dress up in their underwear and chase a ball around a field doesn\u2019t strike me as a high priority for any deity.\u00a0 Then again, I wasn\u2019t indoctrinated into the Church of Calcio as a child growing up in the U.S., so it\u2019s hard for me to fully grasp.<\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>
This player obviously forgot to wear his cornicello. (Photo: FIFA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Perhaps the most famous of these believers is Giovanni Trapattoni, the former coach of the national team during the 2002 World Cup.\u00a0 His sister was a nun, and before every match she would provide him with an ample supply of Holy Water, which he\u2019d sprinkle on all of his players as they walked out onto the field.\u00a0 He then used the remainder of the sacred liquid to wash his own hands.\u00a0 Ridiculous and laughable?\u00a0 Yes. \u00a0However, he\u2019s considered the most successful club coach in the history of Serie A, so who are we to judge?<\/p>\n

But he\u2019s not the only Italian coach to perform such strange rituals during an international competition.\u00a0\u00a0 During the 2012 European Championships in Poland, Cesare Prandelli and his coaching staff trekked eleven kilometers from their hotel to the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy near Krakow before every match. \u00a0This is the holy site which was twice visited by Pope John Paul II in 1997 and 2002. \u00a0In fact, as luck (or God) would have it, the Italians were victorious in both the quarter-final against England, and the semi-final against Germany.\u00a0 However they lost badly to the Spanish team in the final, so maybe \u201csomebody upstairs\u201d was getting a little tired of being called upon for every frivolous favor.<\/p>\n

The club team from Napoli had its own problems with religion\/bad luck.\u00a0 Someone had committed the sin of removing the photos of various saints (including their beloved San Gennaro) from the tunnel where the players entered the stadium.\u00a0 Many giocatori<\/em> would kiss the photos for good luck before running onto the field.\u00a0 When the holy photos were removed, naturally, misfortune followed in the form of an extended losing streak.\u00a0 The players quickly demanded that the pictures be replaced.\u00a0 Which they were.\u00a0 Regrettably, the bad luck persisted for an uncomfortably long period of time.\u00a0 Those saints can be a huffy little bunch of rascals when scorned, it seems.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s go back to the number 13 and see if we can pull all of this together.\u00a0 This last episode actually comes from a Brazilian player\/coach, but since the World Cup is in Brazil this time, I think it fits nicely with our theme.\u00a0 And besides, he has an Italian-sounding name.<\/p>\n

Mario Zagallo is known throughout the soccer world for his stanch faith in the number 13.\u00a0 He was a great admirer of Saint Anthony, and since Saint Anthony\u2019s Day is celebrated on the 13th of June (today!), any connection to the number 13 was sacred to Signore Zagallo. \u00a0He married on June 13th, lived on the 13th floor of his apartment building, guided Brazil through 13 World Cup victories, and apparently was aided in his post-op recovery from stomach cancer by visiting Saint Anthony\u2019s shrine 13 times. \u00a0And yes, at 82 years-old, he\u2019s still alive\u2014although his \u201ckicking\u201d days are clearly over.<\/p>\n

So now let\u2019s all sit back and get ready for some great World Cup action.\u00a0 The games have already started, but Italy hasn\u2019t taken the field yet for its first match.\u00a0 There\u2019s still time for me to look for my lucky socks, which I\u2019ve been careful NOT to wash since Gli Azzurri<\/em> won the title in 2006 (not that I\u2019m superstitious or anything).\u00a0 Forza Italia!\u00a0 Forza Azzurri!!<\/em><\/p>\n

And of course, let me once again introduce you to our merry band of misfit expats.\u00a0 Click on over to their blogs and see what they have to say about Superstitions in Italy.\u00a0 Ciao!<\/p>\n

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\"minitaly\"<\/a>Maria is a 30-something (something low) American Texpat, living and working in her husband\u2019s tiny hometown in the province of Reggio Emilia. Her blog,\u00a0Married to Italy<\/a>, is home to her rants and raves and serves as her therapeutic search for hilarity amongst the chaos. (Read her article here, \u201cBecoming Bold and Italic<\/a>.\u201d)<\/p>\n

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\"misty-evans-surviving-italy\"<\/a>M. Elizabeth Evans of \u201cSurviving Italy<\/a>\u201d is an American expat trapped between two worlds with her badass husband, his chest hair, and their poodle. She is a writer and partner of House Of Ossimori. Her award-winning blog Surviving In Italy, aims to honestly portray her life in Italy, the sober times, the drunken times, the yelling, food, family, and on occasion her obsession with the majestic Capybara. She\u2019s also terrible at writing Bios. Someone do it for her next time, okay?<\/p>\n

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\"georgette\"<\/a>Georgette is an American social media strategist, copywriter, blogger and a certifiable \u2018Tuscan Texan\u2019 living and breathing all things Florence. Social inside and out, she lives in the moment and eats way too much pasta. \u00a0She blogs about life in Italy, travel around Europe (and the world).\u00a0 Check out her blog,\u00a0Girl in Florence<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"gina\"<\/a>Gina is 26 year old California native whose unhealthy love of cheese, wine and gossip has made her a perfect transplant to Italy.\u00a0 She\u00a0blogs about life in Florence<\/a>, tour guiding for college students abroad, traveling and her dog Gorgonzola.\u00a0 When she\u2019s not busy writing down all the crazy stuff that happens to her, she\u2019s listening to Snoop Dog and trying to figure out how to open an In-N-Out Burger in Italy.<\/p>\n

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\"Rochelle<\/a><\/p>\n

Rochelle is\u00a0a writer, translator, blogger and journalist from Perth, Western Australia. She has\u00a0a complex relationship with her\u00a0adopted island home of Sicily, and still has\u00a0much love for her\u00a0native antipodean land, even if it is too far away from everywhere. \u00a0She\u00a0blogs about all things \u2018expat\u2019 at\u00a0Unwilling Expat<\/a>\u00a0and contributes regularly to the\u00a0Times of Sicily<\/a>\u00a0which brings Sicily to the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here I am again with my partners in expat blogger debauchery, tackling the tricky topic of superstitions in Italy.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t a new topic for me\u2014I\u2019ve been fascinated with Italian superstitions ever since my first random encounter with them several years ago.\u00a0 At one point, I was even Google\u2019s golden boy on the subject, ranking […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3081,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[134,202],"tags":[226,242,71,253,241,15,175,162,70],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3080"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3080\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}