August in Atina: agricultural traditions and Feast of the Assumption

August amidst fields, harvests and village festivals in Atina

In Atina and the Comino Valley, August was traditionally one of the busiest and most gruelling months of the year for those working in the countryside. Summer was, in fact, a period packed with agricultural tasks, during which not a single day went by without being devoted to harvesting, preserving and preparing the produce of the land.

Harvesting and storage: the secrets of drying

Families would first and foremost set about drying all their summer vegetables: apples and plums, courgettes, tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins and figs were laid out in the sun in special baskets called “Gl’ Fùnn”. These were distinctive oval, flat containers, about seventy centimetres long, woven from vine branches. Some local craftsmen, such as Vgiucicù gl’ P’zzigli of Villa Latina were true masters of their craft.

Irrigating the fields was not always easy: those who lived near the River Melfa or the Mollarino stream could make the most of their proximity to the water, but solidarity amongst neighbours was essential. When a farmer had finished irrigating, he would close his “closed” to allow the water to reach other people’s fields. This spirit of cooperation strengthened the social fabric of the farming communities.

August was also the month for potatoes and onions, which were harvested, whilst the celery plants required constant care, including weeding and earthing up. The vines, at the height of ripening, required a great deal of attention: the bunches must not weigh down the plant too much, and for this reason the vineyards were meticulously monitored and tended.

Wine and viticulture: vineyard management and the role of vineyard supervisors

In particular, the land belonging to the Fratelli Visocchi Winery They were a model of quality wine-growing. The owners personally supervised the vineyards, imposing strict rules and responsibilities on the tenant farmers. Each plot, known as “It looks like a navl’’, had to be protected against grape theft, a common problem. That is why there were people such as Nanny, an experienced vineyard warden who patrolled the vineyards alongside his sons, often armed with a stick or a rifle butt. His dedication was such that he would pick out the finest pine cone to present to Orazio Visocchi, who rewarded the most attentive and conscientious farmers.

But August wasn’t all hard work: in fact, it was the start of the tomato harvest, which was to be used to make the “cunserva”(tinned tomatoes), and yellow melons and watermelons began to appear on the tables, a sign of the warm season and the first local festivals.

The Accordion Festival: music and culture in Atina

In Athens, the most eagerly awaited music event was the Accordion Festival, which took place at Santo Stefano Park, known as “On the fir tree”. Organised by Alberto Mancini with the Castel Fidardo band, it attracted accordionists from all over Italy, including those from the bands of Pagano and Mottola. Band music was so important in Atina that the conductors did not hesitate to hire musicians on a paid basis to enhance their orchestras.

The August programme culminated in the Feast of the Assumption, one of the most deeply felt religious and popular events of the year. The day began with the “beating” launched into the early morning sky and culminated in a spectacular fireworks display. The fair began early and ended at midday, whilst in the afternoon the solemn procession filled the town’s streets. Everyone dressed up to take part in what was the most popular celebration of the year, a moment of faith but also of collective identity.

August, then, was a month of hard farm work but also of social gatherings, music and religious observance: a time when the community came together around the rhythms of the land and its most ancient traditions.