The magic Griko is a fascinating phenomenon that has been documented in various parts of the world. Griko is a language that is derived from the Greek language and has its roots in the Greek-speaking population of southern Italy. It is primarily spoken in the regions of Apulia and Calabria, and is considered a minority language. What makes Griko magical is the fact that it is not only a language, but also a cultural heritage. It is a symbol of identity for the people of these regions, connecting them to their Greek roots. It is a living testament to their history and their ancestors who migrated from Greece centuries ago.
….Salento , at the beginning of the century; A small insect with black hairy legs wanders in the fertile plains and stings girls who casually enjoy the spring with venomous poison.
From the earlier and simpler curse developed the later, more elaborate, syncretistic forms of the Hellenistic and Roman eras; besides the magical formulas, inscriptions often included so-called voces magicae , characters, or drawings. Youtie 30, involves quite different motivations and requires more serious scrutiny of Roman religious fears than Dickie provides, for these fears had the tendency to lump vast areas of ritual practice, both real and imaginary, both public and private, all together as equally subversive.
It is a living testament to their history and their ancestors who migrated from Greece centuries ago. The magic of Griko lies in its ability to transport people back in time. When someone speaks Griko, they are not just using words, but they are channeling the spirit of their ancestors.
In The Beginning Of The Song
“It has been a long time that it was always in my mind the same dream: We were a group that was very fond of singing and dancing songs and “tarantellas” from ‘another Greece.’ Using wooden instruments, guitars and tambourines we brought to people an amazing and magical world, revealing each one of our experiences and the secrets we had learned while traveling in east and west.”
The dream of Kostas Konstantatos had materialized. He and few friends from Athens founded the “Encardia” group; the “another Greece” is the Griko people, a community of Greek-origin people in southern Italy.
The Griko people are basically to be found in two regions -Calabria, in the “front edge” of the “Italian boot” and in the Salento peninsula which is the “heel”. They are the remnants of the Greeks who had came to South Italy in many waves of migration which begun as long ago as the ancient 8 th BC century colonization, and up untill the 15 th century.
They were once great, in the ancient world. “Magana Graecia” was the name of the south edge of Italy. They had built rich and powerful cities, with rich culture. Pythagoras was from there.
But from the Middle Ages until our modern time the people of this area, which became poor and hard place, struggled and succeeded to keep their identity, culture, language and heritage in the Italian environment. Modern times, mass media, migration to the big cities, “Italianization” and intermingling of people have been gradually eroding their uniqueness, mostly preserved today by aging people in some far and isolated villages.
The language is called Griko and it is a mixture of an old Greek and Italian. It is almost not in daily use anymore, but it is struggling to exist in songs and poems. “As long as someone is singing a song in Griko the language stays alive” says the singer Roberto Licci.
“Andra mou paei “- My man Leaves, Lyrics and music by Franko Corliano; a touching song about the men who are leaving behind their homes and lands, their sad wives and children, and go north to work for some money. The song was inspired by a real heartbreaking farewell scene in the railway station of Lecce that Corliano had experienced many years ago. Marinella sings (English subtitles):
One magical and mysterious way the Griko people had kept their identity throughout the generations is the “Tarantella” dance. This is a fast and frenzied dance ritual performed with much ecstasy.
The “tarantella pitsika”(pitsika-sting) is connected to the ancient Greek colony, a city today, Taranto, in the Salento peninsula which in turn gives its name to a local kind of a wolf spider “Lycosa Tarantula”. From the middle ages people believed that the bite of this spider caused a crisis mania-Tarantism. To heal the bitten person musicians gathered at his home with different colourful clothing, and begun to play a wild music hitting on the tambourine.“The patient began to hit and began a wild mimetic dance imitating the movements of the spider. This could hold three whole days without stopping. He would collapse to the floor, exhausted but healed.”(1).
But was it really like it? The bites of this spider may cause pain and swelling but it has been considered harmless to humans. It was something else. The movements of the dance and the tambourine are reminiscent of a dance of drunken women in Greek pagan cult to Dionysus-the god of the grape harvest.
These Greco people had been living in a very hard area, with little protection and security, and they have personal difficulties like everyone- a lost love, adolescence age, unfulfilled wishes,poverty and personal conflicts; but these people resisted the way of the Catholic Church to handle all these difficulties. They had their own way from ancient time to exorcise evil and they wanted to keep it and combine it with Christianity. They had it in the tarantella. “Laborers on the plantations of rice of Novara* or some mothers in the plains of Salento, who in order to escape the harsh working in the fields and violence from their husbands, fell as if they were poisoned by the bite of mysterious spider and then the musicians came for treatment”(1).
The Tarantism gradually disappeared around the middle of the 20 th centaury, but not the dance which prevails in this area in ceremonies and summer festival which brings mass of pilgrimages every year. “It is as the earth is pushing you from below. It tickles your feet, you can’t stand still, it’s impossible not to dance…” (2)
Here is “Pizicarella”- a tarantella by the “Encardia” group:
The tale of Tarantula (3)
“Once upon a time outside the ancient city of Taranto lived a sweet girl, called Arhani (spider) or Tarantula, who wove beautifully like a goddess. All admired her. She thought very highly of herself that she said to all she was the best weaver in the world. One day she proclaimed that, indeed, not even the goddess Athena can compete with her in the weft. A young man who loved her was very sad because he knew well that when a beautiful girl is inflated with pride and selfishness she loses her beauty and intelligence. So he asked the goddess Athena to advise him what to do to help Arahni on this difficult position that put herself in.Without even thinking Athena told him to sing a song to the girl about the love that he feels for her, because love is the best remedy for all illnesses but most of all for the pride and selfishness…
Once the song of the young man ended, Arahni clothed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep. Nobody ever knew how many days, how many years or even centuries she slept there, beside her beloved , but it appears that the goddess Athena revealed to the boy a secret path that led into her dreams… And so he would go there often and sing to her, and she danced, danced continuously without ever getting tired, because in dreams the girls are dancing without ever get tired…
It seems that so many years passed, perhaps centuries, but Arhani did not wake up and the lad was always there, close to her, without aging and without getting tired, such as the way of young lads once they find their way into the dreams of the girls they love….
….Salento , at the beginning of the century; A small insect with black hairy legs wanders in the fertile plains and stings girls who casually enjoy the spring with venomous poison.
This insect is called Tarantula and an old story says that there was once a beautiful girl who had fallen asleep for many centuries. She woke up when the young man, whom she loved, stopped visiting in her dreams and went to a distant country carrying a secret. A daughter who is bitten by the insect falls down and they say that she will die unless there is someone who loves her.
Then come the boys with wooden instruments and tambourines and spur the girl to dance, and thus she saves herself from the poison. Only then she is getting married to the man she loves and they live happily together to old age…
Some people say that the “tarantula” spider holds the secret of love and the poison is the herb that helps the girls to be married to their mates. Others say that this herb is a remedy for all illnesses but most of all for the pride and selfishness. Others think that the spider did not appear again in the Salento plains and a beautiful girl from Taranto was married at that time a lad who had returned from America…and they lived happily ever after…”
Two more beautiful songs in Griko, the first “To my beautiful girl” sung by Encardia and Roberto Licci
The sisters Eleni and Suzana Vougioukli sing “Kalinifta”-Good night; it is about a young man who is standing at night below his beloved girl’s window, revealing his love and pain to her. Where I go, where I am, I will carry you in my heart….Good night; go to bed as I leave…
The language has a unique rhythm and melody, with its own set of idioms, expressions, and proverbs. Hearing Griko spoken is like listening to a symphony - it is both soothing and enchanting. But Griko is not just about nostalgia and cultural heritage. It is a living, evolving language that is spoken by people today. It is a language of connection, allowing people to communicate and express themselves in a way that is unique to their community. It is a language of resistance, preserving and celebrating a culture that has been marginalized and oppressed. The magic of Griko is not just confined to its linguistic features. It is also evident in the cultural traditions and customs associated with the language. Griko is often spoken during traditional folk festivals, where people come together to celebrate their heritage through music, dance, and storytelling. These festivals are vibrant displays of community spirit and pride, and they serve as a reminder of the magic that Griko holds. In conclusion, the magic Griko is a language that transcends boundaries of time and space. It is a testament to the resilience and perseverance of a community that has fought to preserve its cultural heritage. Griko is more than just a language - it is a living connection to the past, a celebration of the present, and a hope for the future..
Reviews for "Unraveling Griko Origins: Tracing the Language's Ancient Roots"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "The Magic Griko" based on the hype it received, but I ultimately felt disappointed. The story felt poorly executed and lacked depth. The characters were one-dimensional and hard to connect with, making it difficult for me to become invested in their journeys. Additionally, the pacing was uneven, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. Overall, I found "The Magic Griko" to be a mediocre read that didn't live up to its potential.
2. Sarah - 3/5 stars - While "The Magic Griko" had an interesting concept and a unique setting, I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed by the execution. The writing style was often convoluted, making it hard to follow the story at times. The plot also lacked cohesiveness, jumping between different subplots without providing enough context or resolution. Despite these shortcomings, the book did have some redeeming qualities, such as its vivid descriptions and imaginative world-building. However, I wouldn't recommend "The Magic Griko" to readers looking for a well-crafted and smoothly flowing narrative.
3. Alex - 2/5 stars - I really struggled to get through "The Magic Griko". The characters were unrelatable and their actions often felt forced or inconsistent with their established personalities. The dialogue was also stilted and unnatural, making it hard for me to immerse myself in the story. Additionally, the plot was predictable and lacked originality, relying on overused tropes and clichés. Overall, "The Magic Griko" left me feeling disappointed and unsatisfied as a reader.