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The carnival of Offida,
is renewed year to
year in its music
and dances, but the
original history of the
carnival and the
particular traditions
remain despite the
new generations.
The Offidian carnival
is held every year
according to a
traditional ritual:
it begins officially
on 17th January,
the day of St. Antonio
Abate, and ends the day
of Ash Wednesday.
The day of the party
"La domenica degli
amici", which is
held two weeks before
carnival, the
brass-band "Congrega
del Ciorpento" comes
out rumorously from the
16th century
Palazzo Mercolini
to announce the
beginning of the
carnival.
The
congregations
which have the scope to
unite among themselves
usually relatives and
friends, anxious to
participate to the
noisy carnival, begin
the walk through the
town at the sounds of
music, always pressing
to the proximity of the
highlight of the
party.
They have a
fundamental role in
the developing of the
event, the evening
of Thursday before
carnival, they receive
the keys of the town,
and from that moment
the town is
symbolically in their
hands.
Following:
· The children's fancy dress, the Thursday before
carnival
· The hunting of "
Lu Bov Fint" (is the hunt of fake bull) on Friday before
carnival
· The dances
· The party in the square which lasts the whole
afternoon of carnival and it concludes with the phantasmagorical
parade of the "Vlurd".
People from the close
towns and tourists, for
the occasion, reach
Offida not only to
assist as spectators to
parades of great
allegorical floats but
to be involved in an
authentic party where,
put aside rules and
social conventions,
it's a must to enjoy
oneself.
On Shrove Tuesday, everyone in Offida
dress up and many wear the typical "
guazzarò".
A
dramatic turnover
creates the various
congregations,
which parade in their
colours and with their
loading energy.
When night
comes, the colours
come off in a temporary
pause; then the
atmosphere assures a
indescribable, unique
aspect (if you don't
participate) with the
"
Vlurd"
parade.
Hundreds of dressed up
men and women with
lighting faggots on
their shoulders, in
single file, all
staggering among shouts
and unruly dances, run
through the Corso which
seems to be a crawling
flaming snake, then
floods the main square
where in the centre
there is the "Vlurd"
still in flames.
The crazy masks run in
a circle around the
bonfire, shouting and
singing among a vortex
of smoke and many
sparks of fire shining
in the air.
When the
pagan fire that lights
the square in a bacchic
rite of the "Vlurd"
turns off, the silence
returns, heralding the
peace of
Lent.
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