Il Maggio di Accettura, an ancestral rite

On Sunday, I went to Accettura to take part to the celebration of il Maggio di Accettura, an ancestral rite held since centuries, where a holly is grafted into a turkey oak.

The holly symbolizes a female, the turkey oak a male.

According to historians, this rite seems to be introduced by the Longobards.

Accettura is a small village located on the top of a mountain, between Matera and Potenza, in Basilicata.

As per tradition, the natives have split themselves in two teams: cimaioli and maggiaioli.

In other words, cimaioli went to the Gallipoli forest to cut down the top of a holly.

The second team, maggiaioli, moved to the Montepiano bush to uproot the most beautiful example of turkey oak.

I joined to the cimaioli, though.

I was with Lucia and some friends from Altamura.

We arrived at the main square of Accettura at around 2 pm.

We got on the shuttle after having been wating for 1 hour.

However, who cares? We have had chance to talk with some natives who infected us their joy.

Il Maggio di Accettura is so deeply felt by the community, that even emigrants from UK and Germany come back every year to celebrate it.

So, after having got out the shuttle, we joined the crowd who was carrying on the holly.

It was amazing to see people gathering around the tree, drinking and singing.

And what about those men and women (mostly men) who’ll be carrying on the holly for around 15 kilometers?

Of course, good wine was being offered to anyone.

A shepherd has offered some grappa.

He was equipped with wine and grappa. “Wine is male, grappa female” he said, with an amused smile on his face.

We have reached Accettura at 8 pm.

Therefore, we have been walking for almost 4 hours.

We have stopped every hour to let the men take a rest.

I won’t never forget il Maggio di Accettura, because people is so friendly.

And then, because this rite tells us that the environment it’s the most important thing.

We civilized as well as educated men have forgotten it.

Thank you Accettura.

PS.

the graft will be done on Tuesday, therefore you are plenty of time to arrange a last minute trip to Accettura.