Entry 43: The Godmothers of Flowers - I Cummari di Hiuri

Location: Calabria

Date: Mid 1950’s

Holding a handful of freshly picked marguerite daisies bunched with other pretty flowers growing wild in the field, the two girls sat down facing each other. They interlocked their little fingers, and promising to always be best friends, recited their oath together:

English Translation:

Let go, let go little pinkie

For this love and for this ring

For these flowers that we bring

We will always be ‘Cummari’.

Giddy with happiness after making their pinkie promise, they release their grip:

Angelina Moschilla and Teresina Valentino were now ‘I Cummari di Hiuri’. 

Years later, their childhood game turned into reality when Teresina chose Angelina to be her godmother for the sacrament of Confirmation. With a friendship now strengthened by a religious godmother/goddaughter connection, they continued to address each other as ‘Cummari Angelina’ and ‘Cummari Teresina’ throughout their lifetime.

L to R: Angelina Moschilla and Teresina Valentino

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EXTRA INFORMATION

The tradition of 'Cummari' and 'Cumpari' was something children were familiar with from a young age, incorporating it into their games and rhymes, and sometimes even inventing different versions.

English Translation:

Join up, join up little pinkie

For this faith and for this ring

For all these things that we bring

We will always be ‘Cummari’.