5,669
edits
Difference between revisions of "Caffè sospeso (Italy)"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
no edit summary
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | <div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | ||
Why do many Neapolitans, (''napoletani'') enter a bar and ask ' ''C’è un caffè sospeso'' '? ('Is there a suspended coffee?') Those who ask this question know that an old tradition exists in Naples whereby a customer who has had a coffee in a bar elects to pay for two cups of coffee instead of one, thereby leaving a free coffee for an unidentified future customer. | Why do many Neapolitans, (''napoletani'') enter a bar and ask ' ''C’è un caffè sospeso'' '? ('Is there a suspended coffee?') Those who ask this question know that an old tradition exists in Naples whereby a customer who has had a coffee in a bar elects to pay for two cups of coffee instead of one, thereby leaving a free coffee for an unidentified future customer. | ||
We can only speculate about the origins and meaning this tradition, as it has not been the subject of scientific investigation. One of the few literary sources associated with the topic is a book entitled ' ''Caffe' sospeso'' ', which features a collection of essays on the variety of daily life in Naples, written by a well-known Neapoletan writer, Luciano De Crescenzo (De Crescenzo 2005<ref>De Crescenzo, L. 2005. Il caffè sospeso. Saggezza quotidiana in piccoli sorsi. Milano: Mondadori.</ref>). Although the book does not detail this particular practice, the subtitle 'Everyday wisdom by small sips' suggests that the ''caffè sospeso'' tradition comes from distant times and is deeply rooted in the everyday culture of Naples. | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | <div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | ||
The question ‘''C’è un caffè sospeso''?’ conceals a rich history of traditions, social and cultural attitudes, and specific ways of determining community life. Firstly, ''caffè sospeso'' is informed by a subtle stereotype: the Neapolitan fantasy. People living in Naples are renowned for their creativity and this is often displayed in a tendency to use symbolic language. In this case, 'suspended' indicates that something is floating in the air, moving continuously over the heads of the bar's customers, just waiting to be captured. ''Caffè sospeso'' is a metaphor; it is an image that does not go directly to the heart of the matter. A more straightforward expression such as a ‘paid for coffee’, or ‘left coffee’ would have been too trivial an expression, and in Neapolitan society considered almost rude as a question directly addressed to another guest. Equally, an expression such as ‘Would you pay for a coffee for me?' would imply a direct commitment by the donor to the receiver, stressing also possible economic differences between the two persons. Instead, the ''caffè sospeso'' question is a gentle query, in which the identitiy of the one who has paid for the coffee and the one who receives the coffee is kept in the background. Neither of them is directly involved in the exchange: the coffee falls down 'from the clouds', not from the donor’s hands (Schwartz 1967<ref>Schwartz, B. 1967. 'The Social Psychology of the Gift', American Journal of Sociology, 73(1): 1-11.</ref>). | The question ‘''C’è un caffè sospeso''?’ conceals a rich history of traditions, social and cultural attitudes, and specific ways of determining community life. Firstly, ''caffè sospeso'' is informed by a subtle stereotype: the Neapolitan fantasy. People living in Naples are renowned for their creativity and this is often displayed in a tendency to use symbolic language. In this case, 'suspended' indicates that something is floating in the air, moving continuously over the heads of the bar's customers, just waiting to be captured. ''Caffè sospeso'' is a metaphor; it is an image that does not go directly to the heart of the matter. A more straightforward expression such as a ‘paid for coffee’, or ‘left coffee’ would have been too trivial an expression, and in Neapolitan society considered almost rude as a question directly addressed to another guest. Equally, an expression such as ‘Would you pay for a coffee for me?' would imply a direct commitment by the donor to the receiver, stressing also possible economic differences between the two persons. Instead, the ''caffè sospeso'' question is a gentle query, in which the identitiy of the one who has paid for the coffee and the one who receives the coffee is kept in the background. Neither of them is directly involved in the exchange: the coffee falls down 'from the clouds', not from the donor’s hands (Schwartz 1967<ref>Schwartz, B. 1967. 'The Social Psychology of the Gift', American Journal of Sociology, 73(1): 1-11.</ref>). | ||