Original scientific paper
Seasonality of Marriages and Ecological Contexts in Rural Communities of Central-Southern Italy (Abruzzo), 1500–1871
A. Coppa
L. Di Donato
F. Vecchi
M. E. Danubio
Abstract
The seasonality of 27,705 marriages celebrated in a four century span in the Province
of Teramo (Abruzzo, Italy) was analyzed to identify the presence of a long-term pattern related
to the prevailing subsistence activity and the main factors affecting it. The results
show general agreement in all centuries with the agricultural patterns of other lowland
or south-central Italian groups (Piedmont, Veneto, Liguria, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany,
Latium, Campania, Apulia) and Mediterranean regions (Spain, France), although with
some differences. Religious factors strongly affected the timing of marriage only during
Lent. Of interest is the progressive increase through the centuries of marriages in the
summer-autumn months, associated with a decrease in January and February. This
suggests the passage from a summer migration system to a rural sedentary system with
occasional seasonal work.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
28406
URI
Publication date:
17.12.2001.
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