Arbëreshë Carnival — Jashta Jashta Karnuvalli

The Carnival of the Arbëreshë Village

In Portocannone, in the province of Campobasso, Carnival is a time of celebration that brings the entire community together. The town is one of the Arbëreshë centers in Molise—of Albanian language and culture—along with Campomarino, Montecilfone, and Ururi. It preserves an identity rooted in the 15th century, when Albanian refugees following Giorgio Castriota Skanderbeg rebuilt the village after the 1456 earthquake.

Masks, Float, and Effigy

The Carnival day begins in the afternoon from the oratory on Via Gramsci, from where the carnival float parade starts through the town's streets. In the square, entertainment for the little ones, organized by the association "La Fabbrica degli Eventi," accompanies the festive afternoon. In the evening, the highlight arrives: the traditional burning of the Carnival effigy, a symbolic ritual that, according to popular custom, closes the Carnival season.

A Community Celebration

Organized by the Municipality of Portocannone together with the Catholic Action and the young people of the ACR, the Carnival is above all a community event, filled with music, masks, and joy. For visitors, it is also an opportunity to discover a "painted village" that proudly preserves its Arbëreshë heritage.