A wood-carved pear in the Val Gardena valley becomes a symbol of adoration and love
While elsewhere they are freshly picked, in the Val Gardena they are hand-carved: The wooden pears are a central part of the Autumn Market in Ortisei in October.
At the "Marcià de Segra Sacun", the pears, beautifully decorated with a ribbon, are bought by the boys and men of the valley. Where in other places the petals of a daisy are plucked to say "He loves me, he loves me not", the girls and women of Val Gardena can tell from the pear they are given after the market: "Ie te ei gën" (I like you).
Then it is an anxious wait until Easter: The wooden pear may represent the man's admiration for the woman, but what about the other way round? If the feelings are reciprocated, the girl or woman gives the man an Easter egg at Easter. However, he must collect it himself.
Then there is no longer any doubt about how the declaration has been received. This charming custom is still practised in the Val Gardena today, and married women are not left out either.
