A fun way to learn numbers in Italian is to take part in a game of ‘Tombola’. Better known in the UK as ‘Bingo’ and in India as ‘Tambola’ the game was first played in Naples in the eighteenth century. Last weekend in the parish hall of Fornoli church we attended a ‘Tombolata’ – the first in two years because of the pandemic restrictions – which was very well attended. One paid one’s subscriptions to the local ‘Mammalucco’ club and then collected one or more sheets of five cards displaying the numbers from 1 to 90. When the numbers were called out by the game-master (who was regularly encouraged to ‘rumare’ – a local term meaning ‘stir’ or shake the numbers bag) they were marked on our cards with sweet corn seeds.
Sandra and I were both lucky to be the first in one session to get a ‘Cinquina’ – a row of five numbers across – and although we never actual achieved a full house or ‘Tombola’ we did received prizes in the form of chocolate bars and pots of jam.
Other tombola terms used are:
- Ambo – 2 numbers on a single horizontal row.
- Terno – 3 numbers on a single horizontal row.
- Quaterna – 4 numbers on a single horizontal row.
- Cinquina – 5 numbers on a single horizontal row.
- Tombola – the whole card has been filled.
Our afternoon at Fornoli’s parish hall was a very convivial occasion and by no means restricted to the chronologically challenged. Opposite me for example, was one of the candidates for the forthcoming local council elections – an interesting encounter.
At the end of the pleasant afternoon , in the warm surroundings of the hall heated by a mammoth stove of veteran charm we were treated to a ‘rinfresco’ of pizzette, sandwiches and a variety of the most delicious cakes, all washed down with drinks soft and otherwise.
Stepping out of the parish hall we were greeted by rays of sunshine, so welcome after a day where the weather was unrepentantly wet and miserable.
PS For those with poorer Italian language skills the numbers drawn were shown on an illuminated board seen in this photo:
A word of warning was given by indefatigable local organizer and journalist Marco Nicoli, however: some of the numbers could not be shown because they had fused!
A fun day enjoyed by all! Numbers game just simply fun and a social event after lockdown blues. We were both most lucky to have been able to win a cinquina each. In the UK we sometimes went to Bingo there was always a gift on entry a large tin of fruit or a chicken it was always a surprise gift as well as the possibility of winning however we never won anything these were monetary rewards! It was held at the Gala Theatre which was very atmospheric as it was painted to seem like a castle now a religious temple.