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Roman Christmas Market Items

I am currently in Rome on vacation and while at a Christmas market the other day kept seeing a few items over and over at each of the stalls. I was hoping that someone would know what they where, meant, etc. As Iàm not even sure how how to do an internet search for most of them. The first things was a small orniment that look like a man with a top hat and a chili pepper body. It looks as if he is holding a horse shoe in one hand.

Then there were these small dolls that were made of different colored string. They almost seemed like larger versiosn of South American Worry Dolls but with large round heads.

Also I saw a lot of witches on broom sticks.

Any information anyone has would be most helpful.

Thanks,
Beth

Posted by
31 posts

The "witch" on the broom is La Befana, a character in Italian folklore who delivers presents to children throughout Italy, in a similar way to Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus. She brings gifts on Epiphany, or the 12th day of Christmas, when the 3 kings brought gifts to baby Jesus.

She is usually portrayed as an old lady riding a broomstick through the air wearing a black shawl and is covered in soot because she enters the children's houses through the chimney. She is often smiling and carries a bag or hamper filled with candy, gifts, or both.

Posted by
7737 posts

According to my Italian friends on an Italian language forum, the chili pepper guy is an amulet against bad luck and the evil eye, and is not specific to Christmas.

Posted by
7737 posts

Yep, definitely the cornetto. There's a picture at
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/node/9406

Also posted on that bulletin board:
"The Devil's Horn (Corno)
An offshoot of the Evil Eye curse is the use of the Corno, or Devil's Horn amulet. These twisted red coral, gold or silver amulets are often worn as necklaces by men to ward off curses on their "manliness" - very similar to a Mojo. They can often be seen sold in Italian jewelry stores and especially during Italian American festivals. Although most men who wear one will say it represents one of the horns of the devil, the Corno (also known as Cornuto or Cornicello) predates Christianity by thousands of years. Related to the Corno is the hand gesture known as the mano cornuta, which also wards off the Evil Eye by extending only the pinkie and index finger like a pair of horns and pointing it down. When this gesture is made pointing upward (similar to the heavy metal salute to the Devil) it is as an insult to somebody, meaning their husband or wife is unfaithful."