Cantè j'euv

Cantè j'euv: A ritual reborn in Calamandrana

In the town of Calamandrana, a small village nestled in the hills of the Piedmontese Monferrato, one of the most evocative local farming traditions is brought back to life: Cantè j'euv, a dialect expression that literally means "singing the eggs." This ancient Easter ritual, once widespread in the rural areas of the Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato, has been lovingly rediscovered and restored by the local community.

A sung collection from door to door

The heart of the event is the procession of singers, who move from door to door in the evening darkness, guided by the glow of lanterns. Before each home, they perform the traditional song, inviting residents to donate eggs, money, bread, and cured meats. The lyrics call for eggs from "the red, white, and black hen," offering blessings and good wishes to those who donate, and playful curses to those who refuse. Families respond by offering the singers a taste of local food, a glass of wine, and the warmth of genuine hospitality.

The meaning of a tradition

In the past, it was the young men who performed this ritual, both to gather food for the Easter Monday picnic and as an opportunity to meet the young women from the local farmsteads. Eggs, symbols of fertility and rebirth, represented wishes for prosperity, good harvests, and abundance for the coming year, marking the awakening of spring in agricultural communities.

Music, dance, and street theatre

The singers are accompanied by the folk group Balacanta, playing the accordion, hurdy-gurdy, flutes, and bagpipes, while local dancers perform traditional folk dances. The evening is full of theatrical surprises, with residents playfully pretending to refuse the gift, creating a spontaneous form of street theatre that delights the audience. The night concludes with music and dancing in a local courtyard.

An event that unites the world

The event is organized by the Associazione Le Colline della Cultura, in collaboration with the Municipal Library and the support of the Municipality of Calamandrana. In recent years, the festival has gained international appeal thanks to the participation of foreign residents living in the hills between Calamandrana and Nizza Monferrato, hailing from New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and Mexico, who join in to sing in the Piedmontese dialect.