Legumes: staple foods used in rituals and festive events of Apulia region (southern Italy).

Apulia, the most south eastern region of Italy, has a long lasting tradition of legume cultivation. These species, together with cereals, two milestones of the Mediterranean diet, are cultivated in the region uninterruptedly since from Neolithic age. For long time, legumes have had a pivotal role in the traditional agro-techniques and as staple foods for local people. This has generated original rituals, traditions, beliefs and sayings concerning the legumes, mainly broad bean and chickpea. Generally, one or some traditions are perpetuated in some Apulian villages, being the result of the regional social complexity due to intense exchanges with the east side of Mediterranean Sea and succeeding migrations of populations with different cultures and religions. The deep transformation of Apulian agricultural tissue occurred in the second half of XX century has produced the progressive loss of great part of cultural, religious and social significance associated to vegetal species. This paper describes the utilization of some local legume varieties in Apulian rituals banquets, religious and social events still having relevant popularity in the region. In these celebrations, legumes become cultural symbols for the individuals or communities promoting them, though the original meaning has been partially modified or completely changed over the time.