Umarell Explained
Umarell (Italian spelling of the Bolognese Emilian word umarèl, pronounced as /umaˈrɛːl/; plural umarî) are men of retirement age who spend their time watching construction sites, especially roadworksstereotypically with hands clasped behind their back and offering unwanted advice to the workers.[1] Its literal meaning is "little man" (also umaréin).[2] The term is employed as lighthearted mockery or self-deprecation.
The modern term was popularised in 2005 by local writer Danilo Masotti[3] [4] through three books and an associated blog.[5] [6] In 2021, the word was included in the Zingarelli dictionary.[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]
Instances of use
In 2015, the city of Riccione, approximately 130-1NaN-1 southeast of Bologna, allocated an budget to pay a wage to umarells to oversee worksites in the city – counting the number of trucks in and out to ensure materials were delivered/removed according to the receipts, and guarding against theft when the site was otherwise unattended.[12] The town of San Lazzaro di Savena, 6frac=2NaNfrac=2 to the South-East of Bologna, awarded the "Umarell of the year" prize to a local resident, Franco Bonini.[13] [14]
In 2016, the local cultural association called Italian: Succede solo a Bologna ("It only happens in Bologna") released the "Umarèl card" as a fundraiser for continued restoration of the San Petronio church.[15] [16] Separately, a mobile app called Umarells was released that tracked the location of ongoing roadworks and construction sites.[17] [18] The fast food restaurant chain Burger King also "hired" several umarells as part of a social media marketing campaign promoting its increased presence in the country.[19]
In July 2017, the Bologna city council's "consultative commission for street naming" approved the naming of a public square to the East of the city centre in the Cirenaica district Italian: Piazzetta degli Umarells in recognition of the local fame of the concept and the name – noting with conscious irony that the square was under construction at the time.[20] [21] [22] [23] In April 2018, the public square was inaugurated by city councillor Matteo Lepore, the district president Simone Borsari, the "lord of the umarells" Franco Bonini, the stand-up comedian Maurizio Pagliari (Dulio Pizzocchi), and the writer Danilo Masotti.[24] A year later the street-sign for the square was stolen.[25]
In April 2020, the comic magazine Topolino dedicated an episode to the umarell Gerindo Persichetti.[26] In December 2020 in Pescara, the real estate developer Sarra installed windows to allow Umarells to observe three construction sites.[27] [28] Since 2019, an annual calendar has been sold in Bologna newsstands. In 2021, a board game La Giornata dell’Umarell (An Umarell's Day) was released.[29]
Bibliography
- Book: Masotti, Danilo . Umarells 2.0. Sono tanti, vivono in mezzo a noi, ci osservano... e noi osserviamo loro . Pendragon Press . 2010 . 978-8883428579 . Bologna . it . Umarells 2.0. They are many, they live amongst us, they observe us... and we observe them.
- Book: Masotti, Danilo . Oltre il cantiere: fenomenologia degli Umarells . Pendragon Press . 2016 . 9788865988077 . Bologna . it . Beyond the Construction Site: the Phenomenology of the Umarells.
- Book: Masotti, Danilo . Umarells per sempre:Forever . Pendragon Press . 2021 . 978-88-3364-322-9 . Bologna . it . Umarells forever.
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: De Santis . Silvia . 2016-02-06 . Umarèlls a Bologna, pensionati in prima fila per assistere ai lavori in corso. "Ogni giorno controlliamo quel che succede nei cantieri" (VIDEO, FOTO) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210428235909/https://www.huffingtonpost.it/2016/02/03/umarell-bologna-pensionati-in-prima-fila--al-cantiere_n_9149772.html . 2021-04-28 . 2017-07-28 . L'Huffington Post.
- Book: Bianchini, Margherita. 101 cose da fare a Bologna almeno una volta nella vita. Newton Compton Editori. 2011. 9788854125469. Item 40. 2020-10-03. 2021-12-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20211223042350/https://books.google.com/books?id=Yk55attlc4UC&q=zdaura+bologna+umarell&pg=PT116. live.
- News: Masotti . Danilo . Bologna, all'inaugurazione di Piazzetta degli umarells c'erano tutti. Pure i contestatori . Il Fatto Quotidiano . 21 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201125202944/https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2018/04/21/bologna-allinaugurazione-di-piazzetta-degli-umarells-cerano-tutti-pure-i-contestatori/4305185/ . 2020-11-25 . it-IT.
- Web site: Manici . Elisa . 14 April 2014 . La nostalgia degli 'umarells' è paralizzante. Bisogna cominciare a immaginarsi un futuro diverso . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416191005/https://www.ferraraitalia.it/la-nostalgia-degli-umarells-e-paralizzante-bisogna-cominciare-a-immaginarsi-un-futuro-diverso-9013.html . 2014-04-16 . 2020-12-17 . Ferraraitalia.it - Quotidiano di Ferrara - l'informazione verticale . it-IT.
- News: "Oltre il cantiere. Fenomenologia degli umarells": se ne parla con Masotti. BolognaToday. 2017-07-26. 2017-07-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20170729013403/http://www.bolognatoday.it/eventi/umarells-danilo-masotti-salaborsa.html. live.
- News: Esce 'Oltre il cantiere' di Masotti - Emilia-Romagna. 2016-11-08. ANSA.it. 2017-07-26. it. 2020-06-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20200625194434/https://www.ansa.it/emiliaromagna/notizie/2016/11/08/esce-oltre-il-cantiere-di-masotti_40506dc2-da24-4b05-a8a4-71479a879c35.html. live.
- Web site: 2020-12-03. La parola 'Umarell' entra nel vocabolario Zingarelli. 2020-12-03. Ansa. 2020-12-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20201203144539/https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews/2020/12/03/la-parola-umarell-entra-nel-vocabolario-zingarelli_44bfb0ff-5c06-4ecb-9e4c-cde7690ac5e8.html. live.
- Web site: 2020-12-03 . Gli 'umarells' bolognesi si aggirano ufficialmente nella lingua italiana . usurped . https://web.archive.org/web/20201208112353/https://www.dire.it/03-12-2020/538555-gli-umarells-bolognesi-si-aggirano-ufficialmente-nella-lingua-italiana/ . 2020-12-08 . 2020-12-03 . Dire.
- Web site: 2020-12-03. Bologna, gli "umarells" entrano nel vocabolario Zingarelli. 2020-12-03. Corriere di Bologna. 2021-05-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20210506003335/https://corrieredibologna.corriere.it/bologna/cronaca/20_dicembre_03/bologna-umarells-entrano-vocabolario-zingarelli-31df7ea8-3578-11eb-80dd-7dd4650d7b3b.shtml. live.
- Web site: Bartezzaghi . Stefano . 3 December 2020 . Dal cantiere al dizionario: l'Umarèll è finito sullo Zingarelli . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210126221912/https://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2020/12/03/news/e_l_umare_ll_fini_sul_dizionario_zingarelli-276844779/ . 2021-01-26 . 2020-12-03 . . it.
- Web site: 2020-12-03 . "Pensionato che si aggira, con le mani dietro la schiena...": la parola "Umarell" entra nel vocabolario" . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210210061044/https://www.bolognatoday.it/cronaca/umarell-vocabolario-zingarelli.html . 2021-02-10 . 2020-12-03 . Bolognatoday . it.
- News: Bortolotti . Luca . 18 December 2015 . Riccione, il Comune paga i pensionati per sorvegliare i cantieri . it . . live . 2017-07-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170728162016/http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2015/12/18/news/riccione_il_comune_paga_i_pensionati_per_sorvegliare_i_cantieri-129742130/ . 2017-07-28.
- Web site: Anziano al cantiere: premiato il migliore del 2015. Corriere di Bologna. it-IT. 2017-07-26. 2015-06-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20150612233147/http://corrieredibologna.corriere.it/fotogallery/2015/6/uma/premiato-l-umarell-dell-anno-2015-2301502583427.shtml. live.
- News: Un bolognese realizza il sogno dei pensionati: nominato capo cantiere - Tgcom24 . . live . 2017-07-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170728172321/http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/cronaca/emilia-romagna/un-bolognese-realizza-il-sogno-dei-pensionati-nominato-capo-cantiere_2116245-201502a.shtml . 2017-07-28.
- Web site: Le nostre Card. www.succedesoloabologna.it. it-IT. 2017-07-26. 2021-02-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20210228041407/https://www.succedesoloabologna.it/umarel-card/. live.
- News: 2016-02-02 . Bologna per gli anziani: ecco la Umarèl card per seguire i cantieri in prima fila . it . . live . 2017-07-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170728200829/http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2016/02/02/foto/una_vip_card_per_guardare_i_cantieri_bologna_paradiso_degli_anziani-132559452/1/#3 . 2017-07-28.
- News: Giusberti . Caterina . 2016-01-13 . "Trova il cantiere": una app per gli umarells . it . . live . 2017-07-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170728160902/http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2016/01/13/news/_trova_il_cantiere_una_app_per_gli_umarells-131187007/ . 2017-07-28.
- Web site: Troncana . Alessandra . 2016-01-14 . Ecco Umarells, l'app che segnala ai pensionati tutti i lavori in corso . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210111165219/https://corriereinnovazione.corriere.it/2016/01/14/ecco-umarells-l-app-che-segnala-pensionati-tutti-lavori-corso-24ae45a8-baa7-11e5-8d36-042d88d67a9f.shtml . 2021-01-11 . 2017-07-26 . . it.
- News: Jardine . Alexandra . 10 May 2016 . Burger King Recruits Construction-Spotting Pensioners to Oversee its Expansion in Italy . en . . 8 October 2023 .
- News: L'omaggio del Comune Nasce in Cirenaica la piazza degli Umarells - la Repubblica.it . it . . live . 2017-07-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200625005407/https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2017/07/21/lomaggio-del-comune-nasce-in-cirenaica-la-piazza-degli-umarellsBologna07.html . 2020-06-25.
- News: A Bologna arriva la piazzetta dedicata agli "Umarells". Corriere di Bologna. 2017-07-26. it-IT. 2021-01-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20210122071508/https://corrieredibologna.corriere.it/bologna/notizie/cronaca/2017/20-luglio-2017/a-bologna-arriva-piazzetta-dedicata-umarells-2401819891415.shtml. live.
- News: 'Umarell': una piazza dedicata in Cirenaica. BolognaToday. 2017-07-26. 2021-02-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20210226162406/https://www.bolognatoday.it/cronaca/umarell-cirenaica-piazza.html. live.
- Web site: Blog Bologna, e piazzetta degli umarells sia. 2017-07-23. Il Fatto Quotidiano. 2017-07-26. 2021-02-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20210227193717/https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/07/23/bologna-e-piazzetta-degli-umarells-sia/3748542/. live.
- Web site: 16 April 2018 . Inaugurata in Cirenaica la Piazzetta degli Umarells | Archivio notizie da luglio 2012 a giugno 2021 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122194154/http://www.comune.bologna.it/news/inaugurata-cirenaica-la-piazzetta-degli-umarells . 2021-01-22 . 2018-05-25 . Bologna.
- Web site: Bologna, rubato il cartello di piazzetta degli Umarells. 2019-10-16. La Repubblica. 2019-10-16. 2021-02-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20210208112845/https://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2019/10/16/foto/piazzetta_umarell-238724385/. live.
- Web site: Rosato . Paolo . 21 April 2020 . Gli Umarells vigilano anche a Paperopoli . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200621084132/https://www.ilrestodelcarlino.it/bologna/cronaca/gli-umarells-vigilano-anche-a-paperopoli-1.5116505?fbclid=IwAR00aeMNml6TpuQpo_kCJg_G1R1-HwJj7R_xlNBDGzdozW8GlxrNpoPpKqk%2F . 2020-06-21 . 2020-04-21 . Il Resto del Carlino . it.
- Web site: 2020-12-12. Ecco finestre per 'Umarell', così anziani osservano cantieri - Abruzzo. 2021-03-05. Agenzia ANSA. it. 2021-05-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20210514093406/https://www.ansa.it/abruzzo/notizie/2020/12/12/ecco-finestre-per-umarell-cosi-anziani-osservano-cantieri_7875e88a-45f7-4f7f-91c5-bfd17d60b7f3.html. live.
- Web site: Ribaudo . Alessio . 2020-12-12 . A Pescara finestre per umarell, così ritornano nei cantieri (in sicurezza) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210506035019/https://www.corriere.it/cronache/20_dicembre_12/a-pescara-finestre-umarell-cosi-ritornano-cantieri-in-sicurezza-8eaf2214-3c6c-11eb-a276-def331e0f87e.shtml . 2021-05-06 . 2021-03-05 . . it.
- Web site: Rossin . Massimiliano . 1 October 2021 . La Giornata dell'Umarell: arriva il gioco della vita da pensionato . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211201102627/https://www.ilcittadinomb.it/stories/Cronaca/la-giornata-dellumarell-arriva-il-gioco-della-vita-da-pensionato_1408646_11/ . 2021-12-01 . 2021-12-01 . www.ilcittadinomb.it . it.