Le mondine were itinerant working women who left their homes in summer to work in the rice paddies in Northern Italy (work began in the month of June until harvest time) during the 19th and part of the 20th century.
Work conditions were terrible and the pay just enough to barely make the sacrifices worth while. The women spent long hours during the early season bare-footed and knee-deep in water transplanting the new rice and endless hours under the sun weeding the plants as they grew.
A famous film all about their life and work starring entitled “Bitter Rice” came out in 1949 starring Vittorio Gassman and Silvana Mangano.
le mondine
singing under the hot sun
dreaming of autumn
© G.s.k. ‘15
Interesting piece of history — great write — thanks !!!!! 🙂
LikeLike
I should do this more often … there’s so much that people don’t know about Italy.
This song was about a girl who wanted to his mother to give him 100 lira to go to America … and she refuses but her brothers talk the mother into giving her the money. During the trip, the ship sinks and she dies saying that her mother was right and that she should of listened to her instead of to her brothers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a sad story !!!!
Oh yes, I think you definitely should do it more — you’ve got a bird’s eye view on Italian culture and you always explain things so beautifully !!!! 🙂
LikeLike
Why thanks Chris .. it might be a way to get out of the blog hopping rut 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Boy, I know that feeling !!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
LOL … but all your stuff seem just your stuff …
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 hahahaahahaha 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing this bit of history.
LikeLike
🙂 glad you liked it.
LikeLike
Wow …. I love this post, Bastet ….!!!!!
Echoing Chris here — you should do more of these 🙂
LikeLike
Something to really think about.
LikeLiked by 1 person