Proverbs in dialect are a way of passing on the folk wisdom of our forebears, which is still relevant today.
Dialects – especially in Italy – are at the heart of local culture and tradition, an inexhaustible fount of knowledge. This is certainly the case in the towns and villages of Valtellina, particularly Bormio, where the local dialect is still widely spoken by old and young alike.
If you've been lucky enough to see the Pasquali Easter parade in Bormio (find out more), you'll know that community traditions are an important part of life here. Dialect is a part of this precious heritage.
The most famous sayings in Bormio
As a rural culture, many local proverbs are related to the climate, weather and seasons. Once used to plan the sowing and harvest, we think they still hold up today.
Let's take a closer look and see if our ancestors were right.
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Néf in feréir, gran a štéir: snow in February, bushels of grain – in other words, an abundant harvest.
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Marz polverént, tanta séghel e tant formént: wind in March, plenty of rye and wheat – again, a good harvest
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Abrìl al ghe n’à trénta; se l plovés trentùn, al ghe farés mal a nigùn: there are 30 days in April, if it rained for 31 it wouldn't hurt – i.e., rain in April is always welcome.
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Se l plòf al dì de l’Ascénza, per quarànta dì s’é mìga sénza: if it rains on Ascension Day, it'll rain for the next 40.
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Li àqua de agósc’t, li rinfrésc’chen al bósch: rain in August refreshes the forest.
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San Bartolomè pitögn, al pitögna tót l’altögn: drizzle on St. Bartholomew's day (24th August) means a wet autumn.
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Se i mòrt i végnen co i pè bagnà, i camìnen co i pè sciùt!: if the dead arrive with wet feet, they'll walk with dry feet – in other words, if it rains or snows at the start of November (All Souls Day is on 2 November), the rest of the month will be mild.
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Nadàl in plàza, Pàsc’qua su li bràsc’ca: Christmas in piazza, Easter by the fireside – If the weather is mild at Christmas, it'll be a cold Easter.
