The past is a party. It’s food, friends, good wine, singing.
“The past (the meal) in the past was a hearty meal eaten in the company of all the families of a given pasture on an evening just before the demontation. This lunch was a true exceptionality. There would be plenty for everyone to eat and drink, and the fact happened infrequently“.
Source: “Dizionario Dialettale Etnografico di Premana” by Antonio Bellati.
“The past time was also special from a social point of view and in interpersonal relationships: men and women sitting on the lawn sang in unison even for hours, breaking out a completely unique and original repertoire of songs, which is still preserved today.
Nowadays the past has taken on a charitable character in support of associations in the country, while preserving the social and folk-song aspect that has always distinguished it.”
Source: “Dizionario Dialettale Etnografico di Premana” by Antonio Bellati.
The past is still a warmly felt traditional holiday today. It’s food, friends, good wine, singing. It is held in each alpine pasture during the summer season, usually with a fixed date.
It all starts with reserving la part, which is a portion of the past soup that corresponds to the serving size for about 4 people.
On the day of the past, after Holy Mass, we gather in the basement, a makeshift bar with a tent and some wooden planks, waiting for the soup to be ready.
Everyone with their own pot or bucket to take it to their own cabin.
Past soup is a rice soup made with meat broth in a huge copper pot, with a tasty and savory flavor. The process for cooking it is precise and particular, followed scrupulously by the elders of the mountain pasture. The soup is accompanied by a piece of boiled meat, used for broth, and pickled vegetables.
After lunch and several coffees with company, we return to the winery for a snack of sandwich and luganeghe (sausage).
This is followed by singing, toasts, and lots of pure, infectious fun!
A rough calendar of “PAST” on the Premana mountain pastures. For detailed information, please visit the Pro Loco Premana Facebook page, where the July and August events are posted each year.