Badalisc
Encyclopedia
Badalisc is a mythical
creature of Val Camonica
, in the southern central Alps
.
According to legend the Badalisc lives in the woods around the village of Andrista (comune of Cevo
): each year is captured in the period of epiphany
(4-5-6 January) and led by people in the village. Here there is the Badalisc's speech in which the mythological animal tells goliardic news on the community. The Badalisc is a dumb being, so the speech, nowadays written in rhymes, is read by a delegate.
On the second day, at the end of the exhibition, the Badalisc is free and is allowed back in the woods.
The Badalisc is represented today as being with a big head covered with a goat
skin, two small horns, a huge mouth and eyes blazing.
Among the actors of this representation traditionally there aren't women, but only men, although in women's clothes. In ancient times women were prohibited from participating in the exhibition.
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
creature of Val Camonica
Val Camonica
Val Camonica is one of the largest valleys of the central Alps, in eastern Lombardy, about 90 km long. It starts from the Tonale Pass, at 1883 metres above sea level and ends at Corna Trentapassi, in the comune of Pisogne, near Lake Iseo...
, in the southern central Alps
Southern Limestone Alps
The Southern Limestone Alps are the ranges of the Eastern Alps south of the Central Eastern Alps mainly located in northern Italy and the adjacent lands of Austria and Slovenia. The distinction from the Central Alps, where the higher peaks are located, is based on differences in geological...
.
According to legend the Badalisc lives in the woods around the village of Andrista (comune of Cevo
Cevo
Cevo is an Italian comune of 969 inhabitants in Val Camonica, province of Brescia, in Lombardy.-Geography:It is bounded by other communes of Saviore dell'Adamello and Berzo Demo...
): each year is captured in the period of epiphany
Epiphany
Epiphany may refer to:* Epiphany , a Christian holiday on January 6 celebrating the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus* Epiphany , a sudden realization of great truth...
(4-5-6 January) and led by people in the village. Here there is the Badalisc's speech in which the mythological animal tells goliardic news on the community. The Badalisc is a dumb being, so the speech, nowadays written in rhymes, is read by a delegate.
On the second day, at the end of the exhibition, the Badalisc is free and is allowed back in the woods.
The Badalisc is represented today as being with a big head covered with a goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
skin, two small horns, a huge mouth and eyes blazing.
Among the actors of this representation traditionally there aren't women, but only men, although in women's clothes. In ancient times women were prohibited from participating in the exhibition.
See also
- PerchtaPerchtaPerchta or Berchta , also commonly known as Percht and other variations, was once known as a goddess in Southern Germanic paganism in the Alpine countries...
- KrampusKrampusKrampus is a mythical creature recognized in Alpine countries. According to legend, Krampus accompanies St. Nicholas during the Christmas season, warning and punishing bad children, in contrast to St. Nicholas, who gives gifts to good children....
- Pre-Christian Alpine traditions