The Parade Theme

The first to appear in the Contrada Massarella parade are the coat-of-arms, flags and banner that introduce the pink and light blue colour theme. The Captain follows with the emblem of the Contrada escorted by a Soldier and his Portaelmo, or helmet bearer. The Barbaresque leads the horse, while two ladies bear the cape and cap of the horseman. The Flag-bearer introduces the Group of Musicians and Flag Flyers.

They are followed by the four Palios trophies already won by the Contrada.

Thirty years of Palios: throughout this time, the Contrada Massarella has worked to impart its age-old history of the ancient village of Massapiscatoria by replicating facts, events and moments of everyday living. But the leitmotiv that has always distinguished life in this town and contributed to moulding the character of its inhabitants has certainly always been the Padule – or marshlands. For centuries hunting, fishing and the gathering of marsh grass guaranteed the livelihood of the local economy. Entire generations have flourished thanks to the resources and benefits offered by these activities.

Some hunters parade with their dogs: this was the famous hunt “alla pedona”. These dogs were trained to flush out game, setting them to flight, and then retrieving them for their masters. Another type of hunting was called “sbarchettare”, a method that called for the hunters to navigate boats silently amidst the cane thickets. Then we see the typical small boat laden with fishing lures and decoys.

Marshlands also attract groups of wealthy gentlemen from the City who are willing to pay local expert hunters to organise their hunting expeditions.

Three rich gentlemen are accompanied by the local hunter, showing off their game. This is followed by the Cesto, or blind, used for hiding during the hunt. Built with a platform raised above the water, called the ”pulpit”, it is duly camouflaged in a cane thicket and made more stable by willow branches sunk into the ground all around it. One side was left open so that the barchino - a small rowboat - could enter.

To the sides of the cesto are two particular hunting figures: it was their task to lure game by imitating bird calls.

Some women are tending to ducks, another is skinning the game, while yet another is busy weaving a basket from opopanax tree branches. All these activities related to the hunt were carried out exclusively by women. There are also typical local families, consisting of the head of the household, his wife and their children. The authority of the head of the household was never opposed: no one would dare question it. The head of the family was an authentic marsh man, whether he was hunting or fishing, and loved to talk about his activities whenever he had the chance, perhaps embellishing them with anecdotes that would tend to exaggerate the number of animals hunted or fish caught. His wife would keep the modest home in order, take care of the children and tend to the farm animals, mostly quacking ducks that would follow her home from the marshes. The children were used to living in the open air and grew strong and healthy.

For all these people, the wild and vast marsh was their very life.

The parade concludes with two figures bearing a landscape painting of the marsh in winter, a season when it is particularly beautiful.