Legumes: staple foods used in rituals and festive events of Apulia region (southern Italy)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Apulia, the most southeastern region of Italy, has a long-lasting tradition of legume cultivation. These species, together with cereals, two milestones of the Mediterranean diet, have been cultivated in the region uninterruptedly since the Neolithic age. For a long time, legume species have had a pivotal role in the traditional agro-techniques and as staple foods for local people. This has generated original rituals, traditions, beliefs, and sayings concerning the legumes, mainly broad beans and chickpeas. Generally, one or some traditions have been perpetuated in some Apulian villages, which result from the regional social complexity due to intense exchanges with the eastern side of the Mediterranean Sea and succeeding migrations of populations with different cultures and religions. The deep transformation of Apulian agriculture that occurred in the second half of the twentieth century has produced the progressive loss of a much of the cultural, religious, and social significance associated with vegetal species. This paper describes the utilization of certain local legume varieties in Apulian rituals, banquets, religious and social events, which still enjoy relevant popularity in the region. In these celebrations, legumes become cultural symbols for the individuals or communities promoting them, though the original meaning has been partially modified or completely changed over time.