Cantamaggio in Alta Valtaro and Valceno

The Cantamaggio, the ancient song of spring

The Cantamaggio in Alta Valtaro and Valceno is one of the most heartfelt popular traditions of the Parma Apennines. Between April 30th and May 1st, the villages of the Taro and Ceno Valleys, in the heart of the province of Parma in Emilia-Romagna, come alive with the singing of the maggianti (or maggerini): groups of singers who, accompanied by the accordion and traditional instruments, walk through the streets of the towns from house to house, singing stornelli, serenades, and rhymes.

A rite of good omen

Cantamaggio has its roots in peasant culture and is a propitiatory rite that greets the end of winter and celebrates the awakening of nature. During the tour of houses and hamlets, the maggianti receive symbolic gifts from the earth in return — eggs, bread, genuine products — according to a custom that renews the bond between communities and the seasons. It is a participatory festival, open to anyone who wishes to join the choir.

An itinerant event among the villages

The peculiarity of this edition is its itinerant nature, involving multiple Municipalities of the Union of Municipalities Valli Taro and Ceno:

• Varsi and the hamlets of Val Lecca, with the celebrations of Val Ceno;
• Pellegrino Parmense, where the meeting point is at the Sports Field and the itinerant route crosses the village streets with songs and joy;
• Bardi, with the Bardigiano Cantamaggio enlivening the village streets in the evening;
• Anzola di Bedonia, which on May 1st welcomes the singers with the accordion, Mass, refreshments, and live music with ballroom dancing.

A heritage of the Apennines

Spread across many valleys in Emilia-Romagna and surrounding areas, Cantamaggio represents a precious intangible heritage that the communities of the Parma mountains preserve and pass down. Participating means immersing oneself in an authentic atmosphere, made of voices, accordions, and conviviality, far from mass tourist circuits.