Sandrone (Sandróun in
Modenese dialect
Emilian ( egl, emigliàn, links=no, ; it, emiliano, links=no) is a Gallo-Italic language spoken in the historical region of Emilia, which is now in the northwestern part of Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy. There is no standardised version o ...
) is the traditional mask and character of the
Commedia dell'arte representing the city of
Modena.
Origin
Sandrone, is represented as a
peasant
A peasant is a pre-industrial agricultural laborer or a farmer with limited land-ownership, especially one living in the Middle Ages under feudalism and paying rent, tax, fees, or services to a landlord. In Europe, three classes of peasant ...
who is crude, clever, and cunning. He is seen as the spokesman of a humble people who are ill-treated, eternally hungry, and always using tricks to make ends meet. The character of his wife, Pulonia, appears in 1840, soon followed by a son Sgorghiguelo. The three form what is known as the Pavironica family.
Initially, these characters were presented as
puppets
A puppet is an object, often resembling a human, animal or mythical figure, that is animated or manipulated by a person called a puppeteer. The puppeteer uses movements of their hands, arms, or control devices such as rods or strings to mov ...
. Beginning in the late 19th century the three were represented by male actors known as "the Pulonia". Dressed in a style of clothing popular around 1700, Sandrone sports a
corduroy
Corduroy is a textile with a distinctively raised "cord" or wale texture. Modern corduroy is most commonly composed of tufted cords, sometimes exhibiting a channel (bare to the base fabric) between them. Both velvet and corduroy derive from fu ...
jacket, short corduroy pants, red and white cross-striped socks, a floral embroidered vest, and sturdy farmer's boots. He also wears a wig with long hair, partly covered by a white wool nightcap ending in a tassel.
His son (Sgorghiguelo) wears a wig and a reddish-brown cap with a visor. His wife (Pulonia) wears a white hat and an ankle length dress decorated with brightly colored flowers. She may also wear a white apron, black patent leather shoes with bright buckles, and a white wig with ringlets.
For over a century these three characters have been a symbol of
Carnival in Modena. The tradition is kept alive by the Society of Sandrone. Every year, on the Thursday before
Lent
Lent ( la, Quadragesima, 'Fortieth') is a solemn religious observance in the liturgical calendar commemorating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke ...
, Sandrone and his family arrive at the train station from the imaginary village of Bosco di Sotto ("Lower Wood"). From there, they parade to Piazza Grande where the crowd witnesses the traditional "sproloquio," a speech spoken in traditional Modenese dialect by the three from the balcony of
Palazzo
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome which ...
Comunale. The speech makes funny observations about city life and mocks the government in a lighthearted manner.
References
External links
Società del Sandrone home page (Italian)
Clever Zanni class characters
{{fict-char-stub