FOLKLORE IN MILAN
DISCOVER THE TRADITIONS WITH A TOUR GUIDE
"OH MIA BELA MADUNINA": TRADITIONAL MILANESE FOLK SONG
There is a folk-song, that Milanese people know very well; this famous song is dedicated to the gold statue depicting the Virgin Mary, located on the highest spire of the Duomo of Milan!
People of Milan call this wonderful statue the "Little Madonna" or "Madonnina"; in fact the song is entitled "Oh mia bela Madunina", folk-speech words that mean : "My beautiful Madonna". This symphony was composed in 1935 by Giovanni D'Anzi;
These are some verses of the song (dialectal song), and their translation:
"Oh mia bela Madunina, che te brillet de luntan,
tuta d'ora e picinina, ti te dominet Milan,
sota a ti se viv la vita, se sta mai cui man in man"
"Oh my beautiful Madonnina, who gleam from afar,
All made of gold and weeny, you overlook Milan,
Below you we live our lives, and we never twiddle our thumbs"
THE "OH BEJ, OH BEJ" FAIR
The "Oh bej, Oh bej" it is a typical fair, which takes place in Milan, during the St Ambrose's Day, in December.
During this festivity there are hundreds of stalls: bookstalls, craftsmen, roast chestnut vendors, sweetmeat sellers... Today this traditional fair is located nearby the Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle, Piazza Castello).
The very strange name "Oh bej, Oh bej!" is a dialectal expression that means "How beautiful, how beautiful!"; In fact this expression recalls the Milanese children's exclamations when they received beautiful presents from the Pope IV, in the year 1510!
THE PROCESSION OF THE THREE MAGI
Every year during the Epiphany, on the 6th January, there is a spectacular procession in Milan, it starts from the Piazza Duomo and arrives to Sant'Eustorgio Church which contains the Three Magi's relics!
Three people parade disguised as the Three Magi, but there are also the band and other people with nice costumes.
The Three Magi reach the Chiesa di Sant'Eustorgio a Milano, where they bring their presents to the living crib.
THE CEREMONY OF THE "NIVOLA"
Inside the Cathedral of Milan, on the vault there is a tabernacle which contain the relics of a Holy Nail, of Jesus Christ's cross.
Every year, in September, on the occasion of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, the archbishop goes up (42 metres above the Duomo floor!) thanks to a special "lift": a boat-shaped lift (that dates back to the XVIII century) painted and decorated whit angels and clouds, and that is called in dialect "nivola". When the Archibishop reaches the ceiling of the Duomo, he takes the Holy Nail and brings it down, using the "nivola".
Then all the faithfuls can admire the Holy Nail.
THE "SENIGALLIA" FAIR
The "Fiera di Senigallia" is an open-air market, held every Saturday nearby the Navigli district (Porta Genova area). In this market you can find second-hand things, articles of clothings, old curiosities, crafts.
This fair is called "Senigallia", because Milanese people compared this market with a fair that took place in the city of Senigallia, in the Marche region.
Once, this fair was located nearby the Dock of Milan, and the boats waited for it impatiently, because during the fair they mustn't pay any duties!
ANTIQUES MARKET OF BRERA
It is a traditional market of antique-trade and articles of collection. This "Mercatino dell'Antiquariato" of Brera takes place in Milan (every third Sunday of the month) through the streets: Via Formentini, Via Madonnina, Via Fiori Chiari.
THE CARNIVAL OF MILAN
The Carnival of Milan is longer than the rest of Italy; in fact in all the regions it finishes on Tuesday, but in Milan it lasts until Saturday.
The Carnival of Milan is called "Ambrosiano", due to St Ambrose. The legend tells that this Saint and Patron of the city, asked to the faithfuls (when he was leaving for a pilgrimage) to wait for his return before initiating the Carnival festivities.
Typical Milanese Carnival masks are: Meneghino and Cecca.
