Theory, folklore and tradition with "Li Squacqualacchiun and Sagra delle Tomacelle"

On 26 and 27 January, the ritual of the typical Teorese mask is renewed in Teora which officially kicks off the Carnival.

The traditional folkloristic-gastronomic event 'Li Squacqualacchiun and Sagra delle Tomacelle di Teora', organized by the Pro Loco of Teora, on the occasion of the 2024 Carnival and in memory of Raffaele De Rogatis, known as "O Santariello".

During the event, the ancient Irpinian village will be crossed by a procession of masks: men armed with sticks cause a dark noise of cowbells, disturbing passers-by with jokes and even hot gestures and then disappearing noisily into the local alleys of the town. During the evenings, the traditional tomacelle festival will also take place, a typical local dish consisting of meatballs made from pork offal flavored with horseradish root.

They are "Li Squacqualacchiun", the typical Teorese mask. These ancient, primitive and grotesque figures wear a costume made of a canvas sack with a faded jacket placed inside out. Their face is covered by a hood that acts as a mask and only leaves their eyes visible. In their hands they carry sticks, to the ends of which cowbells are attached, which emit a hollow noise, and pine needles, which they use for their rituals. As they wander around the districts of the Irpinia village, they annoy and insult passers-by with jokes and somewhat 'racy' gestures. Once they arrive in the center of the town, the 'Squacqualacchiunì improvise a dance first around the "lu pagliar" (the bonfire) and then around the main fountain, performing their magical rite.

Tradition
The etymology of the term 'Squacqualacchiun' could derive from the dialect word "squacquarat" which means 'scruffy', as these masks appear. These ancient, primitive and grotesque figures wear a costume made up of a canvas sack with a faded jacket placed inside out. Their face is covered by a hood that acts as a mask and only leaves their eyes visible. In their hands they carry sticks, with branches of pine needles attached to them, which they use for their rites and to strike bad luck at those who do not fulfill their wishes. Tradition has it that the first appearance of the mask is on January 17th, although the most important appearance takes place on the last Saturday of the month on the occasion of the festival which celebrates a typical dish of the Teorese culinary tradition, the Tomacella.

Text translated by google translator