In the dark night of the dead in Bonarcado a dark figure still wanders around who inspires a bit of fear, especially in naughty children, but she is good and has a big heart. It is Maria Pantaloru, a legendary figure a bit gloomy who still lives in the historical memory of the population. Until a few decades ago, she wandered in the darkness of autumn evenings through the houses of Bonarcado to beg for a bit of food for the deceased souls.
Also tomorrow evening, November 1st, Maria Pantaloru will wander around the historic center to invoke grace for the souls in Purgatory: the girls from the Pro Loco, who have dusted off this ancient ritual, will impersonate her and will go from house to house, accompanied by the children, reciting “Faghie bene po sas animas de su prugadoriu”.
According to popular memory, Maria Pantaloru was impersonated by some elderly women dressed in mourning who, alone, went from house to house announcing themselves with the sound of a little bell, sa sonazza. They asked for food “po sas animas de su Prugadoriu”. Families welcomed them into their homes and donated seasonal fruits and pabassinos to ingratiate themselves with the peace of the deceased. Children were a little intimidated by Maria’s arrival which could mean a punishment to be served for the mischief they had committed during the year, in fact their parents warned: “si no faese a bonu, zirrio a Maria Pantaloru”.
Another ritual resurrected from oblivion is the death toll of the bells of San Sebastiano, sad and mournful that resounded on the evening of November 1st until the early hours of the day of commemoration of the dead. The boys together with the altar boys, gathered under the steps of the bell tower of San Sebastiano, in the company of some adults, and offered food "sos maccarrones cun bagna" to those who, all night, rang the bells in mourning.
The event is organized by the Pro Loco Bonarcadese with the patronage of the municipal administration of Bonarcado.
