Stretchers In The Beginning

44. Patriarchal families

(patriarchal family of 1920)

L and fathers' than once were fighting like the Simpsons, funny like "Happy Day" or messy as the current extended families?

The patriarchal peasant family with modernity has collapsed since the invention of new agricultural equipment has made it possible to work the land with fewer arms. For a small farm of 15 Biolcati, for example, worked at one time for almost 12 hours a day, 6-7 adults. Now, for the same area more than enough work for two people, who can also afford to do another activity.

Armentini If I ask the Lady of the peasant society of his youth, remembers only a great misery. Still echo in her ears the cries of Mrs. Cesira came to ask for some 'flour for his seven sons, " Oh Lina, the incoeu me 'gan fieu an own Noffink, dareset am a bit of flour for pulenta ? "Yes, because the memories come to his mind only in dialect. Memories of poverty, as a mother Lina helped those most in need of her. At his home were not rich, but at least you ate every day, even during the war. A family of his hard-working. Looking into the past, recalled that "there were no injuries or beautiful or funny, you just had to work. The land, as in fairy tales, was generous only if devote all your energy. There was always something to do: cut grass, harvest grain, beating hemp, raking hay, milking, make bread for the whole week, pour the wine, the sausage sausages, spinning wool. Everything and more. " So the ADJUDGED Armentini.

But little by little, he outlines in his mind the personality of Horace grandfather, the father-master of the family, the patriarch whose authority was never questioned by any of the children or because he had learned from the kinds with time, to live her offspring in some comfort. Grandpa Horace, in addition to the farm, traded in cattle with nearby Tuscany. In late spring, a man set out on foot with the animals and cowboys walking 3 or 4, there and back up to 200 km. Returned proud of exchanges or sales. In fact, these trips reported oil and salt, the two food that his land could not produce.

Here is the story of Armentini :

"When I was born in the twenties, lived in the house 11 people, including three girls. Then two young aunts were married and stayed in 9, including 4 males and 5 females. Then other children were born.

The incontestable figure of Horace ruled over all of us. In the morning or evening around the table, arguing with the men to do the work: they were strict orders, net, indisputable. If there were disputes was to redeem him. In short, it was the great sage and, after of time, I was left with a very positive perception of this man, in spite of its severity.

The figure of razdora, "the hostess, was recruited
the wife of the patriarch, in this case the grandmother. She died the helm of his wife's eldest son.

The razdora she also had specific tasks for the smooth running of the house rested on his shoulders. And, without his having recognized the charismatic figure of the father or husband, was a bit 'more difficult for her to be obedient. But razdora was above all a hard worker who watches over all, all controlled and its place was the house where other arms could do field work, otherwise she had to also. She was the first to get up to prepare breakfast for men and go to feed the cows. She was the last to go to sleep after a hard day's work done. He had the confidence of the father and husband as long as he behaved well: no shackles on my mind, no chance to escape from his daily life: family, home, church. The reward for his great effort was mentally and tangibly possess the keys of the house. If a stranger looked, asked the razdora because she knew that she alone had the authority to make decisions.
Children, in my time, in the patriarchal family, they were not taken into account, were not worth anything, we just had to obey and work.

Perhaps because of the three sons, until my marriage, had just married my father, my mother had no rivals females in the house and I do not recall big quarrel. I remember only that small and large we had a lot of work to be done that day sped away fast.

jealousy, intolerance, rivalry, were all excluded or settled by his grandfather Horace. "

Hard times for too good ... .. A rmentina