Italian: un palo della cuccagnaEnglish translation: Co(c)kaigne pole/greased pole/greasy pole  KudoZ The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators ... More  |
|
| GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW) | | Italian term or phrase: | un palo della cuccagna | | English translation: | Co(c)kaigne pole/greased pole/greasy pole | | Entered by: | Umberto Cassano |
| Options:
- Contribute to this entry |
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Other / other | | Italian term or phrase: un palo della cuccagna | | In the Land of Toys... (Pinocchio) there is ..."un gigantesco palo della cuccagna, dal quale pendono dolci e giocattoli. The dictionary gives me "greasy pole" but I'm not convinced. Any suggestions? Thanks |
| simona dachilleKudoZ activityQuestions: 263 (all closed) ( 4 without valid answers) ( 7 closed without grading) Answers: 64
United Kingdom
| Local time: 14:21
|
| | Co(c)kaigne pole/greasy pole | Explanation:
For "the land of Cockaigne" see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockaigne
A Neapolitan tradition, extended to other Latin-culture countries, is the Cockaigne pole, a horizontal or vertical pole with a prize (like a ham) at one end. The pole is covered with grease or soap and planted during a festival. Then, men try to climb the pole to get the prize. The crowd laughs at the often failed attempts to hold to the pole.
Maypole
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maypole
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 37 mins (2007-07-17 16:34:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Frankly speaking, Simona you should leave "palo della cuccagna" in italian and explain
An interesting description. Here you find "albero della cuccagna" explained as "greased pole"
Cuccagna: Mountains of Cheese, Rivers of Wine. The mythic Land of Cuccagna (Cockaigne in English) was popular from the Middle Ages onward, projecting a gastronomic utopia or "poor man’s paradise." It featured mountains of cheese, rivers of wine, and other sensual delights, as well as punishment for those who worked. This Topsy Turvy world represented a time and place of perpetual feasting. This mythic land survived in Italian popular consciousness for centuries, became one of the driving myths behind mass emigration to America (otherwise known as Cuccagna) and although transformed, still animates aspects of Italian and immigrant culture in America. ***The greased pole found at public festivals is known as l’albero di Cuccagna.*** Climbing to the top, one finds special foods, perhaps money, and other prizes. Further reading: Luisa Del Giudice, "Paesi di Cuccagna and other Gastronomic Utopias," in Imagined States: National Identity, Utopia, and Longing in Oral Cultures, ed. by Luisa Del Giudice and Gerald Porter, Logan: Utah State University Press, 2001: 11-63.
http://www.italianlosangeles.org/index.php?27&167
|
| Selected response from:
 Umberto Cassano
Italy
Local time: 15:21
| Note from asker to answerer| 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
|
11 mins confidence:   peer agreement (net): +1 |
| Co(c)kaigne pole/greasy pole
Explanation:
For "the land of Cockaigne" see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockaigne
A Neapolitan tradition, extended to other Latin-culture countries, is the Cockaigne pole, a horizontal or vertical pole with a prize (like a ham) at one end. The pole is covered with grease or soap and planted during a festival. Then, men try to climb the pole to get the prize. The crowd laughs at the often failed attempts to hold to the pole.
Maypole
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maypole
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 37 mins (2007-07-17 16:34:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Frankly speaking, Simona you should leave "palo della cuccagna" in italian and explain
An interesting description. Here you find "albero della cuccagna" explained as "greased pole"
Cuccagna: Mountains of Cheese, Rivers of Wine. The mythic Land of Cuccagna (Cockaigne in English) was popular from the Middle Ages onward, projecting a gastronomic utopia or "poor man’s paradise." It featured mountains of cheese, rivers of wine, and other sensual delights, as well as punishment for those who worked. This Topsy Turvy world represented a time and place of perpetual feasting. This mythic land survived in Italian popular consciousness for centuries, became one of the driving myths behind mass emigration to America (otherwise known as Cuccagna) and although transformed, still animates aspects of Italian and immigrant culture in America. ***The greased pole found at public festivals is known as l’albero di Cuccagna.*** Climbing to the top, one finds special foods, perhaps money, and other prizes. Further reading: Luisa Del Giudice, "Paesi di Cuccagna and other Gastronomic Utopias," in Imagined States: National Identity, Utopia, and Longing in Oral Cultures, ed. by Luisa Del Giudice and Gerald Porter, Logan: Utah State University Press, 2001: 11-63.
http://www.italianlosangeles.org/index.php?27&167
| Umberto Cassano
Italy
Local time: 15:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:  Italian
PRO pts in category: 59
|
|
| | Login to enter a peer comment (or grade) |
Return to KudoZ list
| |
The translation workplace 
