Brisòma Carvè Carnival

The Brisòma Carvè, bidding farewell to the Quattordio Carnival

Every year, on the evening of Shrove Tuesday, the small town of Quattordio, in the Province of Alessandria, bids farewell to Carnival with a simple and deeply rooted tradition: the Brisòma Carvè. The expression, in the Piedmontese dialect of Monferrato, means "let's burn the Carnival" and perfectly captures the essence of the ritual: lighting a large bonfire to symbolically set fire to the most festive and irreverent period of the year and turn the page towards Lent.

A community ritual in Piazza Giuseppe Fracchia

The event takes place in Piazza Giuseppe Fracchia, the historic market square that serves as the heart of the town. Here, the people of Quattordio gather around the flames: the bonfire is not just a spectacle, but a moment of togetherness that brings entire families together. Participation is strictly in costume, for both adults and children, in a cheerful atmosphere that defies the chill of the winter evening.

Bugie, hot chocolate, and mulled wine

As per tradition, the warmth of the bonfire is accompanied by seasonal specialties. During the evening, bugie (the typical fried pastries of the Piedmontese Carnival, crispy and dusted with sugar), hot chocolate, and mulled wine are distributed for free, sweetening and warming the wait around the fire.

A festival created by local associations

The Brisòma Carvè is the result of the joint efforts of local organizations: the Pro Loco Quattordio, the Gruppo Alpini Quattordio, and the Municipality of Quattordio organize the event together, while the Municipal Civil Protection Group ensures safety and assistance during the lighting of the bonfire. It is this spirit of volunteerism that makes the Brisòma Carvè an authentic event, far from the large tourist carnivals but capable of representing the true identity of a Monferrato village.

Quattordio and the Monferrato

Located halfway between Asti and Alessandria, along the Tanaro valley, Quattordio is a small Piedmontese town of just over 1,500 inhabitants, nestled in the hilly landscape of the Monferrato, a land of wines and farming traditions. The Carnival bonfire ritual, common in many Piedmontese towns, takes the dialectal name of Brisòma Carvè here and preserves the flavor of old-fashioned village festivals.