Calabrese Proverbs by Month: March

26 CommentsMonday • March 1, 2010 • by michelle

I love proverbs in any language, but there’s nothing more pleasing to my ears than Calabrese proverbs…and man do they love to talk about the weather.

Here are three you’re likely to hear around Badolato throughout this month, the first two in dialect, the last in Italian:

Badolatese: ‘U friddu ‘i Marzu trapàna u cornu do voi.
Italiano: Il freddo di Marzo penetra nel corno del bue.
English literal: The cold of March pierces the ox’s horns.
English loose: When it’s cold in March, you’ll freeze your arse off.

One more basic and to the point:

• Badolatese: Marzu è pacchiu.
• Italiano: Marzo è pazzo.
• English: March is crazy.

And to elaborate on that point:

Italiano: Arriva marzo pazzerello; esce il sole e prendi l’ombrello!
English: Here comes crazy March; the sun comes out and you grab your umbrella!

It is true. March weather really does tend to be rather pazzo. It seemed to start in February this year with several days of both sunshine and rain, so we’ll see what this year brings. So far so good!

What are your favorite proverbs (in any language)?