The Castrilli Family - Carpinone Costume

Below are pictures of the costume of Carpinone. Originally, the man's costume consisted primarily of black breeches, white stockings, white shirt and a black or red vest. The traditional female costume was far more colourful. It consisted of an olive green or black skirt with wide pleats. It generally had an apron: a plain one for every day and a fancy one often embroidered with gold thread for holidays. It featured a white, puffy sleeved overblouse worn over a long-sleeved camisole. The bodice was embroidered with gold thread. The headdress consisted of a plain kerchief for every day and a fancy, multicoloured one for holidays.

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Taken in 1935, the picture on the right shows the adult female costume as worn by a Neapolitan tourist in the orchard of Michele Castrilli and Annamaria D'Amico. Around her are three of the Castrilli children: Angela, first left, Armando, third from the left and Adolfo on the far right. The child in front is Amedeo De Silvio the first grandson of Michele and Annamaria and son of Irma Castrilli.

The picture on the left was taken in the early 1950's and features me in a child's costume made for me by my grandmother, Annamaria D'Amico. The picture was taken at a professional photographer's studio in Isernia.

The picture below shows the folk group, Ru Maccature, in modern day costumes which are far more colourful with red skirts for women and red vests for men.

Ru Maccature, which in Carpinonese means the scarf or the headdress worn by the women, was created to perform and promote Molisan culture and has done so throughout Italy and in parts of Europe. It is interesting to note that the group was established and is still directed by Michele Castrilli, the son of Armando Castrilli and Maria Forte. The group also includes Michele's sister, Mariarosaria and her husband, as well as Michele's wife, Pina, and their two children, Monica and Armando. The group can be accessed through their web site at http://web.tiscalinet.it/maccature/HomeIT.html. The web site has an audio component so that one can hear traditional Molisan music.