Wherever you are in the world, you’ve probably seen a local version of one. But not many places have a special name for the phenomenon.
In Italy, the word umarell has entered the dictionary to denote groups of elderly men who gather at construction sites to observe, comment and give unsolicited advice, often with their hands clasped behind their backs.
The word, coined in 2005 by an Italian journalist, Danilo Masotti, is based on a dialect word for ‘little man’ in his native Bologna.
Masotti wrote, ‘When I first discussed the phenomenon on my blog, I was inundated with replies from people saying, “I know one!” – and I received pictures of men lined up to study roadworks.’
For many Bolognesi, the umarells’ presence is endearing, rather than a nuisance. Construction workers now often put up notices to inform them of their next project. There have been books, calendars, board games, apps (which track the location of ongoing roadworks and construction sites) and even action figures.
Thanks to Masotti, the umarell has become such a beloved figure that, in 2017, a square in Bologna was renamed Piazzetta degli Umarells – ironically, at the time, the square was under construction.
Meanwhile, in nearby San Lazzaro di Savena, resident Franco Bonini became the first Umarell of the Year, not to mention the town’s most famous son, with a guest spot on the Miss Italia pageant.
Umarells’ pervasiveness – and nationwide popularity – peaked when Burger King recruited five of them to star in an ad campaign, in response to incessant questions from Milan’s cohort about when construction of the company’s new premises would be complete.
The concept of a retired busybody might not be new. But it’s heartening to see that in Italy, at least, these retirees – who might not have other ways to fill their time or find like-minded company – have been embraced and celebrated.
At times, construction firms have even accommodated their umarells by placing see-through panels in site hoardings to enable the observers to peek through.
And the umarells aren’t going anywhere. Indeed, their presence has often proved useful, as they have been officially tasked with keeping a watchful eye on construction sites and other public works. In Monza, the mayor recruited pensioners to monitor the streets and report any problem, whether it’s a pothole or a faulty streetlamp. The recruits took to their new positions with enthusiasm, although they have been warned not to loiter or proffer unsolicited advice to construction crews.
Every city and town could do with its own battalion of umarells – our streets would be spick and span in no time. Sonia Zhuravlyova
