e start out by saying that, at one time in sense, it was not passed.

One citizen jumped up and said, the past, the shingle roof of the belltow- Let's sell the grass and divide the money among the er of Carano was in terrible shape and households of the village." But a wiser villager said "The urgently needed replacement. But the amount we would get would be so small as to be insignifcouncilmen could not agree on what material should be icant'. Then, from the back of the council chamber, an used for the job! Some wanted to use the same type of old man, considered the wisest in the village, exclaimed shingles as before, while others, who had roamed the "In order to avoid insulting anyone, it would be better to world and seen many things, wanted to use copper roof- have our stud bull graze on that grass". ing, as had recently been used at the campanile of Santa That suggestion won approval by all. So, the next day, a Maria in Cavalese! The discussions went on at every pulley was installed on the roof of the belltower, and a meeting of the Council - tempers would flare, a few strong rope long enough so that both ends reached the ground, was threaded around the pulcurse words were heard and someley. One end of the rope was looped times a few fists would fly! But, alas, around the bull's neck and secured no conclusion was reached. with a running knot, and the strongest Meanwhile, up on the roof, the shinmen started pulling at the other end. gles had completely rotted away. The poor beast, lifted off the ground Finally, one winter, a referendum by the first jerk of the rope, feeling took place, using black and white itself strangled by the noose around beans. Every citizen of Carano was its neck, started to flail around desperto pick a bean - white for the shingles ately. The men pulled all the more, and black for the copper - and place hoisting the animal toward the grass it in an urn. The beans were counted that awaited it. The bull, in a desperate and the usual shingles won out. Calm effort to breath, rolled its eyes and returned to the village and it was thrust out its tongue. The crowd, coldecided to wait for spring before carlected at the foot of the campanile, rying out the wishes of the citizens. cheered the hoisters on with cries and Come spring, however, it was discovered that the old shingles on the belltower were so rotten hurrahs. When they saw the poor animal extend its that grass had begun to grow up there. The curate then tongue, the onlookers (the whole village was gathered turned to the Council and asked for the grass, which he there!) could not contain their enthusiasm. "Look, look, said obviously belonged to him. But the sacristan, one of they cried, 'See how he is longing for that grass? He's whose duties it was to ring the bells, objected. "Oh, no", seen it! He's seen it! His tongue is out, ready to graze. he said, "if the roof had fallen while I was ringing the What a great idea it was to give the grass to our bull!' The church bells, who would have been the victim? I? Or the bull, at this point, had reached the roof, but ... he had curate? Since I was the more at risk, the grass belongs to given up the ghost a few meters below. The grass, which me". But the villagers did not agree with either of these the bull did not get to graze upon, was enjoyed a few days arguments. The people said, We will be incurring the later by the goats, after the roof and its grass, tumbled to cost of the restoration and therefore the grass belongs to the ground - a result of the great strain it had been suball of us!' More discussions sprang up, curse words, jected to by the pulley and the hoisting. Now that roof insults and threats were heard and again some fists flew. had to be repaired ASAP to prevent further damage to Finally, the villagers turned to a passing stranger to act as the tower itself. In Fiemme today the only memory of arbitrator. He proclaimed "Your church of St. Nicholas this fable is the phrase, He's seen the grass. The phrase and its campanile were constructed by the whole com- is used in different situations and with different inflecmunity. Therefore the grass up there belongs to all of tions. Sometimes it is used to mean that someone has you". Called into session, the councilmen asked, but seen the snares set out for him. At other times it notes how can we divide up this armful of grass?" One coun- that someone has seen the usefulness of some course of cilman suggested they draw lots andthe winner takes the action and has profited thereby. grass - period!' Of course, because this suggestion made Written by Verena de Paoli and Giorgio Ceresa 11

Leggenda: Grass on the Roof