Table 2.
Contact, signs, formulas and rituals used on certain days of the year to cure disease
| Diseases | Contact | Signs | Formulas | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certain infectious and parasitic diseases | ||||
| Tuberculosis Adenitis | Making crosses using a holy gold ring [30]. | |||
| Anthrax | Reciting a formula related to Holy Trinity [37]. | |||
| Erysipelas | Making a cross using a metal with the symbol of Solomon engraved on it; making crosses with a gold object, a wedding ring or a silver object [24, 30, 99]. Drawing the sign of Solomon on the thumb [36]. Making three crosses using the fingers [89, 100]. Apply on the part a sheet of paper with a drawing of a circle, four crosses and holy words; applying on the body tracing paper on which is drawned a cross [28]. | Reciting a formula rubbing a wool cloth or the feather of a black hen dipped in oil on the part; reciting a formula wetting the part with breast milk and touching it with the point of a scythe; reciting a formula making a cross with a silver coin [38]. Reciting a formula applying leaves of elder in the form of a cross [90]. Reciting a formula related to Mary, God, Saint Nunziata, Saint Croce, Saint Nicola; reciting a formula rubbing a silver coin on the part [55]. Making crosses with the left thumb reciting a formula [89]. Reciting a formula miming nine crosses on the body using a knife [24]. Making crosses with a gold object reciting a formula [32, 45, 64]. | ||
| Fevers | Scrape and eat the dust of the church walls or wearing the ground collected close to the Chapel of Madonna del Latte (Abruzzo) [24, 30]. | Reciting a formula resting the hands on the forehead [38]. | Using coal found during the day of Saint Lorenzo [65]. Drinking an egg at Easter that was produced on Good Friday [30]. | |
| Helminthiasis | Hang around the neck a small sack containing different objects including blessed olive leaves [24]. | Making crosses on the stomach [28, 49, 62]. | Reciting a formula related to Holy Trinity, Mary, Jesus, Saint Cosma, Saint Damiano, Saint Elia, Saint Giobbe, Saint Giuliano, Saint Biagio, Saint Martino, Saint Rosalia, Saint Oronzo, Saint John and Holy Week [24, 28, 40, 52, 55, 89, 90, 98, 101–104]. Reciting a formula shaking the child upside down; Reciting a formula making the patient drink barley water and wetting the mouth with honey; reciting a formula making three times the sign of the cross and massaging with ointment [90]. Reciting a formula massaging the lower stomach [38, 93]. Draw crosses on the umbilicus reciting a formula [56]. Reciting a formula miming the pulling out of worms from the stomach [40]. | Rolling the child on the ground on Easter Saturday [31]. Using garlic or wild mint picked on the day of Saint John [23, 30, 45]. Using gentian picked on the day of Holy Cross [60]. |
| Herpes | Applying on the part, nine times, four little leaves of blackberry bush in the form of the cross [100]. | Reciting a formula related Saint Antony [28]. Making the sign of the cross using a gold ring and reciting a formula [30]. | ||
| Leprosy | Rolling in the meadows during the night of Saint John [59]. | |||
| Malaria | Drink water of the church of San Mercurio (Sicily); apply a handkerchief that was kept open during the prayer of the Salvatore [28]. | Making three crosses using an axe [24, 37]. Miming the sign of cross on the spleen [30, 37]. Apply on the spleen two strips of blu paper in the form of a cross; apply the stalks of a plant called “pastorella” in the form of a cross [24]. Making crosses on the lower stomach [28]. | Reciting a formula related Saint Margherita [24]. | Drink wine with coal that was found during the day of Saint Lorenzo [28, 65]. Begging for food in three or nine houses during the Christmas night [36, 88]. |
| Mumps | Draw on the part using a feather the sign of Solomon [23, 24, 51, 52]. The sign of Solomon was traced on two hot bricks which are applied to the body [27, 28, 51, 55]. Miming the cross with the thumbs, an axe or using a gold ring [24, 36]. Writing the initials of holy words [24, 37]. The seventh-born of seven sisters made a serious of crosses after putting her thumb in her mouth [47]. On the part of the body you make three crosses using the left hand holding a ladle [55]. |
|||
| Pediculosis | Reciting a formula related Holy Week and Ascension [28]. | |||
| Rabies | Carrying a splinter from the door of the church of San Vito Lo Capo (Sicily) [28]. | Reciting a formula related to Saint Antonio [55]. | ||
| Scabies | Put on the head the dew collected on the day of Saint John [99]. Diving in the sea or rolling naked in the meadows during the night of Saint John [28, 30, 58, 65, 105]. Diving in the sea or rolling in the meadows during the night of the Ascension [28, 55, 65, 86]. | |||
| Stomatitis | Reciting a formula dragging the tail of a black cat across the mouth [24]. | |||
| Tinea | Making a cross on the head with a gold ring reciting a formula [106]. | Submerging the head in two fountains during the day of Saint John [28]. | ||
| Trombiculosis | Miming with a burning coal the sign of Solomon; Miming a sign of cross with a wedding ring [45]. | |||
| Tuberculosis | Reciting a formula applying omentum of calf on the lower stomach and on the back [30]. | |||
| Warts | Enter through the church door in which you’ve never been [46]. | Miming on the part a cross using a knife [28]. The seventh-born of seven brothers apply on the part two reeds in the form of a cross; burying two wooden stakes in the form of a cross [23]. | Reciting a formula related Jesus and Mary [46]. Reciting a formula tieing warts with six strands of straw which are then thrown into a wall [28]. | Rubbing an egg on the part produced on the Ascension Day [36]. |
| Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism | ||||
| Favism | Sign the sufferer with crosses [95]. | Drink fave beans that have been polverized and cooked on Easter Thursday [95]. | ||
| Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases | ||||
| Goitre | Making a cross with a wedding ring [30]. | Drink an egg produced on Ascension Day [30]. | ||
| Mental and behavioural disorders | ||||
| Fear | Drink water in which the medal of Saint Elena and Saint Diego has been immersed [91]. | Cutting the hair in the form of the cross [64]. | ||
| Madness | Reciting a formula covering the patient with the smoke of incense [28]. | |||
| Diseases of the nervous system | ||||
| Nervous Ailments | Use lavender or drink the decoction of chamomile collected on the night of Saint John [23, 49, 61]. | |||
| Epilepsy | Making the cross using the tool used to make woollen balls [37]. | Use gentian collected on the day of Holy Cross [60]. | ||
| Headache | Tie a ribbon around the head on the day of Confirmation [30]. | Making a cross with the stalk of a plant called “jia petrosa” and put it on the forehead [38]. Put on the head of the patient a bucket of boiling water making crosses on the forehead [24]. Applying on the nape two blessed olive branches in the form of a cross [96]. | Reciting a formula related to God, Mary, Saint Joseph, Jesus, Saint Peter, Saint Donato, Saint Silvestro and Saint Flaviano [24, 38, 55, 90]. Reciting a formula putting two black cockerels on the head and on the feet; reciting a formula rubbing the hand on the forehead [38, 101]. Reciting a formula putting a plate of oil on the head; making three crosses while tightening a handkerchief on the head and reciting a formula; reciting a formula making a cross on the head [28]. | Put on the head the dew collected on the night of Saint John [23, 24]. Passing over a stream three times on the day of Pentecost [28]. Drink the decoction of bettony collected the night of Saint John; applying the ashes of the first Wednesday of Lent; wearing on the head a crown of flowers on the day of Saint John; wash using the water of seven different springs on Easter Saturday [30]. Passing on the forehead a silver coin wetted with chamomille collected on the night of Saint John [62]. Applying lavender collected on the night of Saint John; drink an egg produced on the Good Friday [23]. |
| Insomnia | Drink the water that rises near the church of Vergine di Santa Maria di Gesù [28]. | |||
| Diseases of the eye and adnexa | ||||
| Eye Ailments | Touch the part with a crystal that came into contact with a relic of Saint Lucia [29]. Wash with the water rises near the Chapel of Saint Lucia [30]. Touch the part with stones collected in the grounds close to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Rocca [28]. | Making a cross using wedding ring [30]. | Reciting a formula breathing on the eyes while chewing rute [90]. Reciting a formula spitting on the ground [45]. Reciting a formula related to Saint Lucia, Saint Joseph, Jesus and Mary [24, 38, 55, 97]. Reciting a formula applying on the eye a wedding ring or a silver object and making signs of cross on the part [24]. Reciting a formula applying a little bough of fennel on the eye; reciting a formula passing on the part the eye of the needle or a gold brooch [27]. | Washing using the water of polenta cooked on Easter Saturday [46]. Washing with water on Easter Saturday [23, 36]. |
| Catarats | Reciting a formula making signs of cross [56]. | |||
| Conjunctivitis | Reciting a formula lowering down eyelid and moving it from right to left [107]. | Using water, which has had roses left in it during the night of Ascension [42]. | ||
| Pterygium | Reciting a formula applying a small branch of fennel or verbain on the eye passing on it a gold ring. Reciting a formula touching the part with a clove of garlic and making three crosses [28]. | |||
| Sty | Miming a cross with a white strand passed through a needle [64]. The sign of the cross must be done by the last of seven children [99]. A twin must make with the tongue the sign of the cross on the eye [91]. Miming signs of crosses [100]. | Wetting the eye during Easter Saturday [25]. | ||
| Diseases of the circulatory system | ||||
| Epistaxis | Putting two wooden stakes on the nape in the form of the cross [46, 105]. Sign on the forehead the cross using blood from a nosebleed [30]. Putting two stalks in the form of the cross on the head or nape [23, 30, 32, 36, 42, 45]. Sign with a wedding ring the cross on the head [32]. Putting three pieces of straw and three matches in the form of the crosses on the forehead [28, 99]. With the stems of horsetail make a cross on the head [60]. Draw three crosses, one on the forehead and two on the cheeks [23]. | Reciting a formula related to God and Jesus [24] | ||
| Gangrene | Sign the part reciting three Ave Maria [94]. | |||
| Hemorrhages | Reciting a formula related to Jesus [89]. | |||
| Hemorrhoids | Spread the grease of a bell [30]. | Use the dew collected on the night of Saint John [24]. | ||
| Diseases of the respiratory system | ||||
| Asthma | Reciting a formula massaging the chest [64]. | |||
| Cold | Reciting a formula rubbing chamomile oil on the body [38]. | |||
| Hiccup | Putting on the back two pieces of straw in the form of the cross [30]. Draw a cross on the Adam’s apple [28]. | |||
| Pleurisy | Reciting a formula making a sign of cross [89]. | |||
| Pneumonia | Reciting a formula applying leeches to the [38]. Reciting a formula related to Saint Sebastiano [24]. | |||
| Rhinitis | Covering the patient with the smoke of pennyroyal collected on the day of Saint Maria Maddalena [28]. | |||
| Tonsillitis | The sign of Solomon was traced on a heated tile that was applied leaving the sign on the part [108]. | |||
| Diseases of the digestive system | ||||
| Gingivitis | Use the water left in the open air during the Ascension night [32]. | |||
| Hepatitis | Drink for seven days an egg after drawing a sign of the cross inside with a coin [37]. | Reciting a formula related to Saint Costantino [28]. | ||
| Hernia | Spread on the part the grease of a bell [36]. | On Annunciation or Easter Saturday or Saint John or Holy Cross passing three times the child across a split tree or in a circle created by a branch split in two for the occasion [37, 40, 55, 63–66]. | ||
| Glandular Inflammations | Rubbing oil taken from a votive lamp [28, 30]. | Making crosses with a wedding ring [30]. | ||
| Meteorism | Reciting a formula rubbing oil on the lower stomach [28]. Reciting a formula related to Saint Cosma, Saint Damiano, Saint Lorenzo, Saint Apollonia and Saint Leonardo [24, 28]. | |||
| Swelling Mouth | Reciting a formula rubbing a key under the tongue [24]. | |||
| Ranula | Reciting a formula putting ash under the tongue [28]. | |||
| Stomachache | Rubbing oil taken from a votive lamp [30, 31, 46]. Putting on the part the key of the door of Cathedral [97]. | Making cross with the thumb [31]. | Reciting a formula related to God, Holy Trinity, Mary, Jesus, Saint Peter, Saint Biagio, Saint Giobbe, Saint Martino, Saint Rocco and Holy Week [28, 30, 55, 64, 93, 97, 98, 103, 109]. Reciting a formula rubbing warm oil on the part [24, 55, 109]. Reciting a formula healer walking on the sufferer [28]. | Applying on the part a coal found during the day of Saint Lorenzo [49]. Rolling on the ground the day of Easter Saturday [23]. |
| Toothache | Attach and ring a bell using the teeth [30, 38]. | Making cross with a wedding ring [30]. | Reciting a formula touching the tooth with the root of scotch; reciting a formula touching the tooth with a stalk of wheat [93]. Reciting a formula related to Holy Trinity, Mary, Jesus, Saint Peter and Saint Leonardo [38, 93]. Applying a mush of parsley, oak and acacia reciting a formula [36]. | Eat three seeds of grapes during the day of Saint John [36]. |
| Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue | ||||
| Boils | Drawing with a quill-pen dipped in ink the sign of Solomon [23]. | |||
| Acne | Wetting with seawater collected on the night of Saint John [96]. | |||
| Alopecia | Applying the dew collected on the night of Saint John [23, 24, 30, 36]. | |||
| Calluses | Stepping barefoot onion on plants during the day of Saint John [30]. | |||
| Chaps | Applying vinegar used during Christmas dinner [36]. | |||
| Milk Crust | Wetting the head during Christmas night [58]. Put on the head the dew collected on the night of Saint John [45]. | |||
| Skin Diseases | Rolling in the meadows during the night of Saint John [31]. Diving in the sea during Christmas night or Ascension night [28, 55]. | |||
| Skin Eruptions | Drawing the sign of Solomon on the part [46]. | Applying the dew collected on the night of Saint John [23, 96]. | ||
| Hyperhidrosis | Putting the hands on the altar of a church [28]. | |||
| Impetigo | Use priest’s saliva [97]. | |||
| Lupus | Reciting a formula related Holy Trinity and Mary [24]. | |||
| Maculas | Applying the dew collected on the night of Saint John [45]. Rubbing an egg produced on the Ascension day on the part [36]. | |||
| Wrinkles | Applying the dew collected on the night of Saint John [23]. | |||
| Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue | ||||
| Arthritis | Rubbing oil taken from a votive lamp [28, 30]. | Drawing on the part the sign of Solomon [30, 47]. | Reciting a formula bandaging the part with a warm cloth [90]. | Applying capon fat used during the Christmas dinner [31]. Use a stone collected on the night of Saint John [96]. |
| Cramps | Miming three signs of crosses on the part [31, 101]. | Miming three crosses on the part reciting a formula [28]. | ||
| Dislocations | Making crosses on the part [30, 100, 106]. | Reciting a formula bandaging the part [89]. | ||
| Gout | Drawing on the part the sign of Solomon [47]. | Reciting a formula related Jesus, Mary and all the Saints [47]. | ||
| Sciatica | Making with oil three signs of crosses on the part [31]. | Reciting a formula related to Mary, Saint Sisto and Saint Silvestro [96]. Reciting a formula rubbing hard on the part [24]. | ||
| Sprains | Making crosses rubbing oil on the part [28]. | Reciting a formula rubbing oil on the part [28]. Reciting a formula related to God, Holy Trinity, Mary, Saint Joseph and Saint John [24]. | ||
| Diseases of the genitourinary system | ||||
| Uterus Ailments | Use the decoction of chamomile collected on the night of Saint John [30]. Use gentian collected on the day of Holy Cross [60]. | |||
| Renal Colics | Rubbing a stone placed close to the church of Saint Getullio on the back; rubbing the sides on the columns of a church [24]. Rubbing the sides on the walls of a church [38]. Keep in the hand nine walnuts that come from a crib [28]. | Making three crosses touching with feet the loins of the sufferer [30]. | Reciting a formula while healer sitting astride sufferer [24, 32, 94, 96]. Reciting a formula related to Beato Salvatore [98]. | |
| Impotence | Urinating on a plant of rosemary during the night of Saint John [23]. | |||
| Infertility | Applying the decoction of various herbs collected on the night of Saint John [30]. | |||
| To regularize Menstruations | Use lavender collected on the night of Saint John [23]. | |||
| Metrorrhagia | Put on the lower stomach small pieces of straw in the form of a cross or drawing crosses with ink or soot [23]. | Reciting a formula related to Saint Marta [23]. | ||
| Wombache | Reciting a formula related to the Holy Trinity and Saint Cipriano [89, 93]. | |||
| Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium | ||||
| Abortus | Wearing a glass that came from a church lamp [37]. | Reciting a formula related to God [98]. | ||
| To favour Birth | Attach and ring a bell using the teeth [52]. Apply on the head a handkerchief that was kept open upon a Mary’s altar [30]. | Reciting a formula lighting a candle during Candlemas day [38]. | ||
| Colics of Infants | Reciting a formula related to Jesus, Saint Cosma and Saint Damiano [28]. | |||
| To eliminate Maternal Milk | Put on the breasts leaves of parsley in the form of a cross [99]. | |||
| To favour the secretion of Maternal Milk | Eat the left-overs from table of Capuchins [24, 32]. Wearing the ground collected close to the Chapel of Madonna del Latte [30]. Eat the left-overs from table of Franciscans; wearing chick-peas donated by a priest; drink the water that rises near the churchs of Saint Scolastica, Saint Agata or near the monastery of Franciscans; [24]. | Miming three crosses on the shoulders [28]. | Reciting a formula related to Saint Agata [24]. | |
| Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes | ||||
| Insect Bites | Making crosses with the thumb [110]. | Reciting a formula applying a knife on the part [28]. | ||
| Venomous Bites | Reciting a formula related to God. Jesus and all the Saints [24, 55]. | |||
| Foreign Body in Eyes | Reciting a formula closing the eyes [105]. | |||
| Foreign Bodies in Respiratory Tracts | Eat a piece of bread used during Christmas lunch or offered during the day of Saint Biagio [30]. | |||
| Burns | Reciting a formula drawing a circle on the part [24]. Reciting a formula related to Mary [24, 55]. | |||
| Contusions | Miming a sign of cross using a wedding ring or a piece of a plate [28, 46]. | Applying butter, pork fat, oil or remains of candle used during Christmas dinner [36]. | ||
| Fractures | Applying the sticks of cork oak collected on the day of Saint John [111]. | |||
| Wounds | Drop on the part oil drips previously dropped on a blessed olive leaf [99]. | Miming three crosses on the part [38]. | Reciting a formula rubbing a cloth dipped in oil and soot on the part [28, 38]. Reciting a formula making with the thumb a sign of cross [89]. Reciting a formula attaching a strand on the part [109]. Reciting a formula related to Jesus, Mary and Saint Lazzaro [24]. | Applying butter, oil or pork fat used during Christmas dinner [36]. Use the dew or the lavender collected on the night of Saint John [23, 25]. Rubbing elm’s oil or Saint John’s wort’s oil collected on the day of Saint John [28, 29]. Using oil, which, has had lizards and scorpions left in it and captured during the Ascension day [99]. Use blackberry bush’s oil collected on the day of Ascension day [95]. |
| External causes of morbidity and mortality | ||||
| Falls | Drink an egg during Ascension day [30]. | |||
| Miscellanea | ||||
| All Diseases | Rubbing oil taken from a votive lamp [24, 32]. | Reciting a formula related to Jesus and Mary [90]. | Use water collected from a public fountain during the Christmas night [97]. Diving in the sea during Ascension day [55, 92]. Using water, which, has had roses left in it during the night of Ascension [55]. | |
| Children Diseases | Rubbing oil taken from a votive lamp [46]. | |||
| Pains | Use garlic collected on the day of Saint John [59] . |