October in Atina: San Marco, the Grape Harvest, and Traditions

October in Atina: A Month of Faith, Work, and Togetherness

In Atina, the month of October was marked by two major events: the feast of Saint Mark and the grape harvest. The community experienced busy days where religious traditions, rural rituals, preparations for winter, and conviviality around the fruits of the land all intertwined.

The Feast of Saint Mark and Religious Celebrations

On October 1st, the celebrations in honor of Saint Mark, patron saint of Atina, began. The event was so important that one day was not enough: it was celebrated for at least three days, with religious rites, fairs, and processions. The Confraternities and devotees of the Saint participated with solemnity, while the streets of the town came alive with the music of the Tavoliere band and local musicians.

During the procession, the silver relic depicting the hand and arm of Saint Mark was carried by the parish priest together with the statue of the Bishop of Galilee. The townspeople attended with great devotion, asking for protection and blessings for their families and harvests. The squares also hosted a fair, full of products for the festive meal and tools useful for daily life.

On October 4th, the Feast of Saint Francis at the Convent was added, with children wearing the habit and receiving blessed bread. A simple and evocative ritual that strengthened the bond between faith and community.

Flavours of Autumn: Chestnuts, Pomegranates, and Nocillo

October was also the month of autumn fruits: pomegranates, grapes, and chestnuts filled gardens and cellars. Walnuts and hazelnuts, called v’luan’ in the local dialect, were precious for Christmas sweets and for making the traditional nocillo or nocino, an aromatic liqueur that is still part of the traditions of the Valle di Comino today.

Field Work: Sowing and Harvesting

Beyond the celebrations, October was a time for agricultural work. New sowings of wheat and barley took place, while in the yards of the scattered houses of Sabina, Case Melfa, Piè delle Piagge, Forme, and Cesapiana, bundles of cannellini beans could be seen hanging to dry. When the time was right, the pods were beaten with the vett’ or gl’ vuètt’, a stick with a rope that allowed the beans to be separated, destined to be stored dry for months.

The Grape Harvest: The Heart of Atina’s Tradition

The grape harvest was the most eagerly awaited moment of the year. In Atina, wine culture had deep roots, also linked to the famous Visocchi cellars, a reference point for experience and entrepreneurial ability. During the harvest, the cellars became places of work, confrontation and celebration: wine-making advice was exchanged, techniques were discussed, but also good-natured rivalries between producers were created, often resolved over a glass of wine, with the proverbial “all for a ’b'cch'rucci’’ (all for one shot).

The grapes were harvested in wicker baskets and chariots carried by mules to the cellars. The women were in charge of the pressing, while the children amused themselves by singing and jumping around, making the effort a moment of collective joy. Controlling the production were the customs guards, who accurately recorded quantity and quality in the municipal registers.

The sounds and atmosphere of the grape harvest

In addition to the work, the suggestion of the sounds remained etched in the memory: the noise of the carts full of pressed must, the tinkling of the ropes and the chattering in the alleyways created a unique atmosphere. For Atina, San Donato and Gallinaro, towns that have always been linked to wine, October was the month that combined hard work, celebration and tradition, leaving indelible memories in the families.