What is a Zagarellato?

[CarlaGrillo39]

Hi everyone,

My ancestor, Rocco Cerullo, was from Rocca San Felice, Avellino, and on his death record (1810) his occupation is noted as a Zagarellato. I've tried googling this occupation but can't find too much. A few matches pop up that connect the word with clothes, marble, and vegetables. From my understanding, it may have also been used to denote a particular colour. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

As a side note, Rocco's wife and daughter are noted as Filatrice or Seamstresses, so I wonder if he also had a creative occupation.

Many thanks in advance,
Carla

[mmogno]

... his occupation is noted as a Zagarellato....

The word could instead be "Zagarellaio"?

[CarlaGrillo39]

Yes, I recently found the following:

ZARELLARO
'O zarellar (or zagarellaro ) was the merchant.
He usually had a small shop or a walking cart, and his trade involved **SPAM** "anything", from sweets to toys, from household items to clothes. And it is from this last sector that this name takes its name, given that the women came to him to buy ribbons, strings, pins, buttons and fabrics, together with accessories that in the dialect took the name of zagarelle . Over time, then, his goods became rich and could be stocked with brooms, buckets, rags, sweets, alcohol, insecticides, alcohol, cotton wool and even syringes for injections.

I believe this term is used mainly in Napoli and surrounding regions (including towns in Avellino).

Many thanks,
Carla