The Bullroarer Atlas

TUCCI1969-007 - ethnographic attestation

Sant'Andrea Apostolo dello Ionio, Catanzaro

Calabria - Catanzaro Ionian coast - Southern Europe (NE Italy)

Sacred / spirit

Engraved bone and antler pieces from the Lortet cave assemblage.
Representative — not this record’s object. · Engraved bone and antler pieces from the Lortet cave assemblage · Public domain Image source

At Sant'Andrea Apostolo dello Ionio, on the Calabrian coast, the bullroarer served the church. From the Mass of Maundy Thursday to the Gloria of Holy Saturday the bells were bound, and in their silence the rombo called the faithful to the services, struck midday, and sounded the Ave — the whirled slat standing in, three days a year, as the town's bell.

I fedeli vengono invitati col rombo a recarsi in chiesa … col rombo si da pure il segnale del mezzogiorno e dell'Ave.

The faithful are summoned to church with the rombo … with the rombo the signal is also given for midday and for the Ave.

Dr. Nicodemo Giovinazzo, 25 Aug. 1954 (Tucci 1969, p. 377 n. 22)
Object
Light terminal-holed slats on one loose cord, used in numbers through the town during the Triduum.
Function
Para-liturgical bell substitute: from the Maundy Thursday Mass to the Holy Saturday Gloria, with the bells bound, the rombo called the faithful to church and sounded midday and the Ave.
Map confidence
medium - Sant'Andrea Apostolo dello Ionio old town.
Source location
Tucci 1969, p. 372 and p. 377 n. 22

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