Does anyone know about the tradition of Elf Locks in the hair? My wife, who passed away, was a witch from Italy and talked about things like this, but I can't remember much about this one. I recently read a book called By-Paths in Sicily. It was written in 1920 by a woman named Eliza Heaton. She was a writer studying peasant life in Sicily. She met a woman there named Vanna who wore the Elf Locks, and there's a old photo of her in the book.
Heaton says the Elf Lock tresses are a sign of a person "taught by witches" and they can never be combed or cut. Vanna talks about being chosen by the "ronni" (some kind of fairy) when she was a young girl. She prays to a specific star, burns seven candles, and calls to "Saint Devil". Vanna tells Heaton that "our stars give the grace" and she says that she must look to see if the star "shuts and opens again". Vanna says that's a sign the star heard her.
Anyone familiar with this stuff? I'm looking for more info. Thanks.