Regarding the case of DJ Fabo/Cappato, who was s'accabadora?
Until a few decades ago, euthanasia was practiced in Sardinia. It was the job of "sa femmina accabadora" to bring death to those in agony. S'accabadora was a woman summoned by the family of the terminally ill person, who provided a way to end their suffering. It was a compassionate act towards the dying but also a necessary one for the survival of the relatives, especially for the less affluent social classes. In small villages far from a doctor, several days away by horse, it helped to avoid prolonged and excruciating suffering for the patient.
Sa femmina accabadora would arrive at the dying person's home always at night and, after sending the family members who had called her out, she would enter the death room. The door would open, and the dying person, from their bed of agony, would see her enter dressed in black, with her face covered, and understood that their suffering was about to end. The patient was either suffocated with a pillow or the woman would deliver the blow using "su mazzolu," causing death.
S'accabadora would leave on tiptoe, as if she had completed a mission, and the patient's family would express deep gratitude for the service rendered to their loved one by offering her produce from the land. Almost always, the blow was directed to the forehead. The term "accabadora" comes from the Spanish "acabar," meaning to finish. "Su mazzolu" was a kind of stick specifically made from a wild olive branch, 40 centimeters long and 20 wide, with a handle that allowed for a safe and precise grip.
In Sardinia, s'accabbadora practiced until just a few decades ago, especially in the central-northern part of the island. Many remember a grandfather or great-grandfather who dealt with the lady in black. Her existence was always considered a natural phenomenon, just as there was a midwife to assist in birth, so there was s'accabadora to assist in death. It is even said that it was often the same person, and her role could be distinguished by the color of her attire (black if bringing death, white or light if bringing life).
This figure, an expression of a socio-cultural and historical phenomenon, is the practice of euthanasia and in the small rural villages of Sardinia, it is linked to the relationship that Sardinians had (and have) with death, considered as the conclusion of the natural cycle of life.
(text taken from the web and then elaborated by me)
Ho visto agire s'Accabadora
Until a few decades ago, euthanasia was practiced in Sardinia. It was the job of "sa femmina accabadora" to bring death to those in agony. S'accabadora was a woman summoned by the family of the terminally ill person, who provided a way to end their suffering. It was a compassionate act towards the dying but also a necessary one for the survival of the relatives, especially for the less affluent social classes. In small villages far from a doctor, several days away by horse, it helped to avoid prolonged and excruciating suffering for the patient.
Sa femmina accabadora would arrive at the dying person's home always at night and, after sending the family members who had called her out, she would enter the death room. The door would open, and the dying person, from their bed of agony, would see her enter dressed in black, with her face covered, and understood that their suffering was about to end. The patient was either suffocated with a pillow or the woman would deliver the blow using "su mazzolu," causing death.
S'accabadora would leave on tiptoe, as if she had completed a mission, and the patient's family would express deep gratitude for the service rendered to their loved one by offering her produce from the land. Almost always, the blow was directed to the forehead. The term "accabadora" comes from the Spanish "acabar," meaning to finish. "Su mazzolu" was a kind of stick specifically made from a wild olive branch, 40 centimeters long and 20 wide, with a handle that allowed for a safe and precise grip.
In Sardinia, s'accabbadora practiced until just a few decades ago, especially in the central-northern part of the island. Many remember a grandfather or great-grandfather who dealt with the lady in black. Her existence was always considered a natural phenomenon, just as there was a midwife to assist in birth, so there was s'accabadora to assist in death. It is even said that it was often the same person, and her role could be distinguished by the color of her attire (black if bringing death, white or light if bringing life).
This figure, an expression of a socio-cultural and historical phenomenon, is the practice of euthanasia and in the small rural villages of Sardinia, it is linked to the relationship that Sardinians had (and have) with death, considered as the conclusion of the natural cycle of life.
(text taken from the web and then elaborated by me)
Ho visto agire s'Accabadora
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