Biodemographic Study of a Central Apennine Area (Italy) in the 19th and 20th Centuries: Marriage Seasonality and Reproductive Isolation

Abstract

This study investigates seasonality of marriages and reproductive isolation in six long-isolated communities in the central Apennines (Italy). It had two objectives: (1) the identification of an Apennine biodemographic model in comparison with mountain communities of other regions, and with non-Apennine communities in Abruzzo, and (2) to identify the possible effects of the drainage of Lake Fucino (1854-1876) on that area. Marriages in this region show two very stable seasonal patterns: one is typical of sedentary rural societies, with summer migrations and marriages preferentially celebrated in the winter, and the other has marriages that are strongly concentrated in the summer months, i.e. between 75% and 93·5% of marriages were celebrated between June and October in these communities in the 1800s. These were traditionally pastoral communities with winter transhumance of the flocks and their shepherds towards the lowlands of southern Italy. In both groups, restrictions imposed by the Catholic Church do not seem to have affected the timing of marriages. Indeed, economic factors related to work activities seem to have had more influence. Concerning reproductive isolation, the results show high rates of endogamy: between 85% and 98% in both the 19th and 20th centuries. Rates of consanguineous marriages were between 5% and 20%, and those of isonymous marriages rarely exceeded 9%. The coefficient of inbreeding shows that there was a delayed, limited period of increased consanguinity in the few decades around the turn of the century. This is different from the national situation, and thus could be a consequence of the Lake Fucino drainage. Biodemography of the central Apennines429

For the times they are a changin'

“…When work intensified, as agriculture was transformed, we would expect the seasonality pattern to change reflecting the gradual decline of slack seasons ' (p.1124). 7 Marriage seasonality in pastoral and agricultural communities has been recently investigated for Sardinia and Abruzzo, by Sanna and Danubio (2008), and Danubio and Amicone (2001), respectively. newlyweds, ceremonies were not performed with pompa in respect for the liturgical season) during the spiritual preparation for the two main Christian feasts: Advent (the period enclosing the four Sundays before Christmas) and Lent (the 44 days from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday) 8 .…”

Pitungan and birth variations of first-born among Javanese ethnic population in Indonesia

“…The substance of other socio-cultural factors is the cycle of activity seasons and their interactions will forcibly shape the annual activity. For example, in the agricultural population, they will do a cluster of mating before or after the main season of agricultural activities (Danubio 2001).…”