August, 2009
Pudarina
The custom is known as guarding ripening grapes.
However, behind this name much more interesting events are hiding such as boys and girls flirting with one another in a way that was commonly approved in a little local community. Pudarina takes place between Assumption Day and The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15 to September 8). This is the time when grapes ripen and girls go to village cellars, the so called gatori in order to guard the harvested grapes from the birds. They are accompanied by an older woman who should take care that during the day, when the cellar is being prepared for storing the fruits of the harvest, girls do embroidery. In the evenings, “gatori” are visited by young men for whom the girls have been waiting the entire day. A party follows during the night – the village approved and parents allowed such meetings outside the house. The following verses have been remembered: For one more autumn I will guard the grapes / until my darling gets married. Or: I thought so sweet of guarding grapes / it isn't sweet without you, my darling.
