Quando una foglia era abbastanza: il mio ricordo del "Gioco del verde".
Quando ero ragazzino non c’erano social network e il divertimento nasceva
da piccole sfide quotidiane basate sulla memoria e sulla furbizia. Il "Gioco del
Verde" era proprio questo: una usanza che trasformava il periodo austero della
Quaresima in una sorta di "nascondino" continuo. Tutto ruotava intorno a un
impegno preso tra amici o fidanzati: dal Mercoledì delle Ceneri fino a Pasqua,
ognuno doveva avere addosso, in ogni istante, una foglia verde e fresca. Non
importava dove la nascondessi — nel taschino della camicia, dentro la scarpa,—
l'importante era che fosse a portata di mano.
Il bello del gioco era l’elemento
sorpresa. In qualsiasi momento — a scuola, durante una passeggiata in piazza o
persino a messa — uno dei partecipanti poteva saltare fuori e gridare: "Verde!"
o "Fuori il verde!". A quel comando, scattava la frenesia: dovevi estrarre
immediatamente la foglia. Se la mostravi, eri salvo e il gioco continuava. Se
l'avevi dimenticata a casa o, peggio, se la foglia era diventata secca e gialla
(perché non l'avevi cambiata), venivi dichiarato sconfitto tra le risate degli
amici. Chi perdeva doveva pagare un pegno.
Spesso si trattava di piccole cose:
un uovo di cioccolato, una manciata di confetti o, se il gioco era tra
innamorati, un pegno più romantico. Era un modo ingegnoso per tenere alta
l'attenzione e colorare di speranza (il verde, appunto) un periodo che la
tradizione religiosa voleva molto sobrio e rigoroso.
Con questo semplice ricordo Geppo e Gina augurano una Buona Pasqua a tutto il gruppo di “Adulti ancora a scuola”!
✍️ The following translation is for friends and relatives who live elsewhere. English as a language of exchange.
When a leaf was enough: my memory of the "Gioco del Verde".
When I was a kid there were no social networks and fun was born from small daily challenges based on memory and cunning. The "Gioco del Verde" was just that: a custom that transformed the austere period of Lent into a sort of continuous "hide and seek".
Everything revolved around a commitment made between friends or boyfriends: from Ash Wednesday until Easter, everyone had to have a green and fresh leaf on them at all times. It didn't matter where I hid it — in my shirt pocket, inside my shoe— the important thing was that it was within reach.
The beauty of the game was the element of surprise. At any time — at school, during a walk in the square or even at mass — one of the participants could jump out and shout: "Green!" or "Green out!".
At that command, the frenzy was triggered: you had to pull out the leaf immediately. If you showed it, you were safe and the game continued. If you had forgotten it at home or, worse, if the leaf had become dry and yellow (because you had not changed it), you were declared defeated to the laughter of friends.
Whoever lost had to pay a pledge. Often it was small things: a chocolate egg, a handful of sugared almonds or, if the game was between lovers, a more romantic pledge.
It was an ingenious way to keep attention high and color with hope (green, in fact) a period that religious tradition wanted to be very sober and rigorous.
With this simple memory Geppo and Gina wish a Happy Easter to the whole group of "Adults still at school"!
When a leaf was enough: my memory of the "Gioco del Verde"
When I was a kid in which there were no social networks and fun was born from small daily challenges based on memory and cunning, the "Gioco del Verde" was just that: a custom that transformed the austere period of Lent into a sort of continuous "hide and seek".
Everything revolved around a commitment made between friends or boyfriends: from Ash Wednesday until Easter, everyone had to have a green and fresh leaf on them at all times. It didn't matter where I hid it — in my shirt pocket, inside my shoe— the important thing was that it was within reach.
The beauty of the game was the element of surprise. At any time — at school, during a walk in the square or even at mass — one of the participants could jump out and shout: "Green!" or "Green out!".
At that command, the frenzy was triggered: you had to pull out the leaf immediately. If you showed it, you were safe and the game continued. If you had forgotten it at home or, worse, if the leaf had become dry and yellow (because you had not changed it), you were declared defeated to the laughter of friends.
Whoever lost had to pay a pledge. Often it was small things: a chocolate egg, a handful of sugared almonds or, if the game was between lovers, a more romantic pledge.
It was an ingenious way to keep attention high and color with hope (green, in fact) a period that religious tradition wanted to be very sober and rigorous.
With this simple memory Geppo and Gina wish a Happy Easter to the whole group of "Adults still at school"!
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