Carnival impressions from Calabria
- katharinaaronis
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
In Calabria, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday — la Quaresima. Nighttime visits from house to house, folk songs, and a large bonfire in the piazza are essential parts of the tradition.
Shrove Tuesday in Luzzi
The Carnival celebrations reach their climax and end, because “King Carnival,” who has ruled here for the past few days, is dramatically burned under the watchful eyes of the masked villagers.
But why? What did he do? Well, he ate too much pasta!
According to legend, King Carnival — in Luzzi also called Nannuzzu Carnulivaru (Grandpa Carnival) — receives the key to the town and rules for a few days. However, he overindulges, eating and drinking too much, and ultimately dies on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. In some villages, this event is reenacted.In Luzzi, a funeral procession moves through the village, led by a hearse, and ends in the piazza, where a life-sized effigy is symbolically set on fire. To make the scene as realistic as possible, someone actually lies inside the hearse while the mourning widow follows behind, crying and cursing. The spectacle concludes with a large spaghetti feast in the main square.
The fire symbolizes a new beginning: everything old and negative is burned away, and people look to the future with hope. Winter is driven out, and spring is welcomed.
The Night Before Carnival Sunday in Luzzi
This night is dedicated to a special song: the “Supprisatara.” Groups of villagers organize themselves and go from house to house singing the Supprisatara.
They visit friends and family, who are unaware of the surprise and are woken from their sleep.
In the song, food and drinks are requested, so the surprised host must invite the group inside and offer them something to eat and drink. Often, the host already knows about the plan and has had time to prepare plenty of food and drinks in advance.
Fat Thursday in Castrovillari
“Sirinata d’a’ Savuzziza” is a special evening in Castrovillari when folk bands from southern Italy come together to perform their most beautiful serenades. The evening is part of a series of events held from February 7 to 17 on the occasion of the Carnival of Castrovillari, which has been celebrated here since the 17th century.
In 1959, the idea emerged not only to celebrate Carnival but also to establish an International Folklore Festival. On the penultimate evening, during the “Gara del Folclore,” folklore groups from Italy and abroad gather to present songs and dances from their homelands.
The two-week program is very diverse and offers something for everyone. You´ll find more info on the events here: https://www.carnevalecastrovillari.it/
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