Calabria forms the foot of the Italian boot. This region is in the heart of the Mezzogiorno, the south of Italy. Who would expect to find an Albanian Carnival here? Who would expect to find an African Carnevale here? Keep on reading to learn about some of the most distinctive Carnevales in all Europe. San Demetrio Corone is a village of under four thousand people in Calabria facing the Apennine Mountains and the Ionian Sea. It was founded more than five hundred years ago by Albanians who were fleeing an Ottoman invasion. Despite the centuries the townsfolk have managed to keep their Albanian language and customs while becoming Italians. On the first Saturday of Carnival they celebrate the "Feste dei Morti." The poor and children go from house by house collecting alms. Then they march to the local cemetery where food and drink is served surrounded by the gravestones. The food known as "Colivi" is made from boiled wheat and was eaten at Paleo-Christian funerals. In the nearby village of Saracena, population about four thousand, named for the Arabs who formerly ruled this part of the world, the Festa di San Leone (Feast of St. Leon) starts with candlelight procession from the church of that name accompanied by music made with traditional musical instruments. Then comes the "Fucarazzi'" (bonfire) at dusk that stays lit all night long while the inhabitants and guests enjoy the ritual food and drink. Another Albanian Carnevale in Calabria is held in the village of Lungro many of whose three thousand some inhabitants speak a dialect of Albanian. The villagers celebrate Carnevale by parading in traditional Albanian costumes. In northern Calabria, the city of Montalto Uffugo (population about seventeen thousand) holds an interesting parade of men wearing women's dresses. They hand out sweets and tastes of Pollino wine. Following the parade, the kings and queens arrive for a night of dancing wearing costumes that include giant heads. Actually cross dressing is a popular Calabrian Carnevale theme for both men and women as are the ancient Commedia dell'Arte farces in which Carnival is dying, surrounded by busy but hopelessly ineffectual doctors. The funeral is grotesque and ends with a huge bonfire. The town of Castrovillari, population well over twenty thousand on the northern border of Calabria, holds its Carnival of Pollino. The women dress in intricate traditional costumes and both the men and women celebrate the Pollino wine of the region, Lacrima di Castrovillari. But there's more. This Carnevale now includes a children's carnival and an International Folklore Festival with Jazz concerts and multiple events devoted to African, Afro-American, and Afro-Brazilian culture. The times they are a'changing.
Levi Reiss authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but would rather drink fine French, German, or other wine, paired with the right foods. He loves teaching computer classes at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel, wine, and food website
- Related Articles
- Related Q&A
|
Create The Perfect Honeymoon
By: Jamie Simpson | 22/01/2010Your honeymoon is likely to be one of the most important holidays that you will ever have. Make sure your travel agent provides exactly what you want...
Economise Your Travel Plans
By: Simon Johnnson | 22/01/2010Travelling has always been a major financial risk but the money factor has never deterred the passionate lobe trotters from discovering unknown lands. Every generation has devised new ways to economise their journey. Travelling refreshes one's body and mind and replenishes him with that vital energy which sustains him through...
Identity Protection While Traveling
By: Simon Johnnson | 22/01/2010Do you like to travel frequently? Do you feel insecure giving out your name, credit card number, etc and aren't sure how to protect your identity? With the huge volume of travelers and the increased accessibility to private information, identity theft has become quite a threat and causes frequent travelers...
Businesspeople can forget their bags and concentrate on the deal
By: Phil Adams-Wright | 22/01/2010Being sent to far flung destinations as part of your job can sound like fun. In reality however, you’re more likely to spend your time stuck in meetings than on a beach. For many businesspeople however, travelling is a necessary part of their job and can be key when it comes to closing lucrative deals.
Sick of the snow? How about spending next Christmas on the beach?
By: Phil Adams-Wright | 22/01/2010Everyone loves a white Christmas, but when the snow refuses to budge and treacherous ice makes your journey to work a living nightmare for weeks on end, then you could well be forgiven for wanting to quit the UK all together and start a new life in the sun.
The English Celebration
By: Lee Sew Ming | 22/01/2010Spring is celebrated annually through the May Day Blue Ribbon “Obby “Oss in Padstow, Cornwall. The “Obby “Oss is believed to have started 4,000 years ago and was a pagan festival held to welcome Spring.
Retiring abroad the stress-free way
By: Phil Adams-Wright | 22/01/2010After coming to the end of their working life, it has become common for people in Britain to look at the possibility of moving abroad, perhaps to enjoy their retirement with a little sun on their backs. Moving abroad is always a big step whatever your circumstances. It’s never easy leaving family members behind, especially grand-children, and breaking ties with friends you may have had your whole life.
An Emigration Checklist – Make Sure You Take Everything
By: Phil Adams-Wright | 22/01/2010Emigrating is an exciting prospect: starting a fresh and new life abroad, possibly in nicer surroundings and weather than we experience here. Many people will be excited about their move and not fully understand all the arrangements that need to be made, moving to a new country to live there requires a lot of paperwork but after you have filled out his paperwork you still have plenty of other arrangements to sort before you can move.
A Wine Lover's Weekly Guide To $10 Wines - A Red Blend Of Portuguese Port Grapes
By: Levi Reiss | 21/01/2010 | Home & FamilyTimes are tough. Don't give up on life's little pleasures. Each and every week this sommelier and wine enthusiast will review a $10 (or cheaper) bottle of wine, pairing it with food and cheese and give you his unbiased opinion, and lots of information on the wine, the grape variety, and the winery. You may find a bargain or save your hard-earned money. Get your wine rack ready.
I Love Italian Travel - Basilicata Carnevale Season
By: Levi Reiss | 20/01/2010 | TravelCarnival, Carnevale, or Mardi Gras; there's nothing like Carnival festivities to banish winter blues. Italy is a great place for a Carnevale vacation. You'll find holiday masks, costumes, allegorical floats, special food and wine everywhere. Each Italian region celebrates differently. Carnevale 2010 is on February 16th, Carnevale 2011 is on March 8th, but Carnevale season starts earlier. Plan your Italian holidays now. Keep reading.
A Wine Lover's Weekly Guide To $10 Wines - A White Zinfandel From Beringer
By: Levi Reiss | 19/01/2010 | Home & FamilyTimes are tough. Don't give up on life's little pleasures. Each and every week this sommelier and wine enthusiast will review a $10 (or cheaper) bottle of wine, pairing it with food and cheese and give you his unbiased opinion, and lots of information on the wine, the grape variety, and the winery. You may find a bargain or save your hard-earned money. Get your wine rack ready.
I Love Italian Travel - Abruzzi Carnevale Season
By: Levi Reiss | 14/01/2010 | TravelCarnival, Carnevale, or Mardi Gras; there's nothing like Carnival festivities to banish winter blues. Italy is a great place for a Carnevale vacation. You'll find holiday masks, costumes, allegorical floats, special food and wine everywhere. Each Italian region celebrates differently. Carnevale 2010 is on February 16th, Carnevale 2011 is on March 8th, but Carnevale season starts earlier. Plan your Italian holidays now. Keep reading.
Failure Rate for Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Leads on the Rise
By: Levi Reiss | 14/01/2010 | TravelA new study suggests that Medtronic Defibrillator Lead may have a failure rate of close to 30% over the next four years, rather than the 3% originally anticipated. The United States congress is investigating the Food and Drug Administration approval process to insure other potentially harmful medical devices are properly tested prior to approval.
I Love Italian Travel - Southern Italy February Attractions
By: Levi Reiss | 10/01/2010 | TravelDon't think of Italy as only a summer destination. You'll find plenty to do and see all year. These articles provide ideas for your Italian winter vacation, describing regional spectacles, tourist attractions, and special events, and sometimes skiing and other winter sports. Italian winter holidays have several advantages: You won't fight the crowds, accommodations are easier and cheaper to find, and every region has its own winter festivals.
I Love Italian Travel - February Attractions Of Central Italy
By: Levi Reiss | 08/01/2010 | TravelDon't think of Italy as only a summer destination. You'll find plenty to do and see all year. These articles provide ideas for your Italian winter vacation, describing regional spectacles, tourist attractions, and special events, and sometimes skiing and other winter sports. Italian winter holidays have several advantages: You won't fight the crowds, accommodations are easier and cheaper to find, and every region has its own winter festivals.
A Wine Lover's Weekly Guide To $10 Wines - A White Orvieto From Central Italy
By: Levi Reiss | 08/01/2010 | Home & FamilyTimes are tough. Don't give up on life's little pleasures. Each and every week this sommelier and wine enthusiast will review a $10 (or cheaper) bottle of wine, pairing it with food and cheese and give you his unbiased opinion, and lots of information on the wine, the grape variety, and the winery. You may find a bargain or save your hard-earned money. Get your wine rack ready.
About the Author:
Levi Reiss authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but would rather drink fine French, German, or other wine, paired with the right foods. He loves teaching computer classes at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel, wine, and food website www.travelitalytravel.com and his wine, diet, health, and nutrition website www.wineinyourdiet.com.