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Maschera del Badalisc - Andrista - Cevo (Foto Luca Giarelli)

The Badalisc (also Badalisk) is a

mythical Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrati ...

creature of the

Val Camonica Val Camonica (also ''Valcamonica'' or Camonica Valley, Eastern Lombard dialect, Eastern Lombard: ''Al Camònega'') is one of the largest valleys of the central Alps, in eastern Lombardy, Italy. It extends about from the Tonale Pass to ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

, in the southern central Alps. The Badalisc is represented today as a creature with a big head covered with a

goat The goat or domestic goat (''Capra hircus'') is a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (''C. aegagrus'') of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the a ...

skin, two small horns, a huge mouth and glowing eyes.

The celebration

According to legend the Badalisc lives in the woods around the village of Andrista (commune of

Cevo Cevo ( Camunian: ) is an Italian ''comune'' in Val Camonica, province of Brescia, Lombardy, northern Italy. Neighbouring communes are Saviore dell'Adamello and Berzo Demo. It is located near Valle Camonica near the slopes of Adamello. Hi ...

) and is supposed to annoy the community: each year it is captured during the period of Epiphany (5 & 6 January) and led on a rope into the village by musicians and masked characters, including ''il giovane'' (the young man), ''il vecchio'' (the old man), ''la vecchia'' (the old woman) and the young ''signorina'', who is "bait" for the animal's lust. There are also some old

witch Witchcraft traditionally means the use of Magic (supernatural), magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In Middle Ages, medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually ...

es, who beat drums, and bearded shepherds, and a

hunchback Kyphosis is an abnormally excessive convex curvature of the spine as it occurs in the thoracic and sacral regions. Abnormal inward concave ''lordotic'' curving of the cervical and lumbar regions of the spine is called lordosis. It can result ...

(''un torvo gobetto'') who has a "rustic duel" with the animal. Traditionally only men take part, although some are dressed as women. In medieval times women were prohibited from participating in the exhibition, or even to see or hear the Badalisc's Speech; if they did so they would be denied

Holy Communion The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was instituted ...

the following day. In the village square (formerly in a stable) the ''Badalisc's speech'' (''la 'ntifunada'') is read, in which the mythological animal

gossip Gossip is idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of others; the act is also known as dishing or tattling. Gossip is a topic of research in evolutionary psychology, which has found gossip to be an important means ...

s about the community. The Badalisc itself is a dumb creature, so the speech, nowadays written in rhyme, is read by an "interpreter". Once improvised, now written in advance, the speech reveals all the supposed sins and scheming of the community. During the speech the hunchback bangs his stick rhythmically at intervals. The speech is followed by singing, dancing and feasting. In the evening the community eats the "Badalisc

polenta Polenta (, ) is a dish of boiled cornmeal that was historically made from other grains. The dish comes from Italy. It may be served as a hot porridge, or it may be allowed to cool and solidify into a loaf that can be baked, fried, or grilled. ...

" (a commercial version of this traditional food was launched in 2010). Until recently, village children would beg from house to house during the Badalisc celebrations for cornmeal to make the polenta; a Badalisc

salami Salami ( ) is a cured sausage consisting of fermented and air-dried meat, typically pork. Historically, salami was popular among Southern, Eastern, and Central European peasants because it can be stored at room temperature for up to 45 ...

was also specially made for them. The badalisc has a place of honour at the feasts. On the second day, at the end of the exhibition, the Badalisc is set free and allowed to return to the woods.

Related customs

The ritual has strong similarities with the ''Bosinada'', ''Bosinade'' or ''Businade'', satirical performances of prose, poetry or song, in which a storyteller (the ''Bosin'') denounced the misdeeds of the community. Known from the 16th century, these were once widespread throughout northern Italy and derived from the purification rituals of

New Year's Eve In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve, also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries, is the evening or the entire day of the last day of the year, on 31 December. The last day of the year is commonly referred to ...

. Any link between the Badalisk of Andrista and the mythical

Basilisk In European bestiaries and legends, a basilisk ( or ) is a legendary reptile reputed to be a serpent king, who causes death to those who look into its eyes. According to the '' Naturalis Historia'' of Pliny the Elder, the basilisk of Cyre ...

(half lizard, half serpent, with a head like a cat, but squarer, like a toad) that incinerates everything on which it rests its gaze (well known in Cevo and elsewhere in northern Italy) is unclear.

In popular culture

This article was the topic of conversation in the first episode of series four of the web series "Two Of These People Are Lying" hosted by The Technical Difficulties. In the somewhat popular Roblox Game/Pokémon Fangame "Loomian Legacy: Veils of Shadow", there is a Loomian called Wabalisc, an Ice type Legendary that is a direct reference to Badalisc.

Gallery

Image:Corteo del Badalisc - Andrista - Cevo (Foto Luca Giarelli).jpg, The capture of the Badalisc Image:Badalisc - Andrista - Cevo (Foto Luca Giarelli).jpg, The Badalisc Image:Spettatori alla festa del Badalisc - Andrista - Cevo (Foto Luca Giarelli).jpg, People listening to the "Badalisc's speech"

External links

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Atlante demologico lombardo
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Badalisc.com
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YouTube
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Bibliography

Luca Giarelli, ''Il Badalisc di Andrista: maschera di Cevo in Valle Camonica'', in ''Carnevali e folclore delle Alpi. Riti, suoni e tradizioni popolari delle vallate europee'', 2012, .

References

{{Christmas, state=collapsed Alpine folklore Italian folklore Italian legendary creatures Christmas characters Christmas in Italy Mythic humanoids Ritual animal disguise Supernatural legends