Carnevaletto di Perano

The Carnevaletto di Perano, the Carnival of the Abruzzo hinterland

In the heart of Abruzzo, nestled in the hills of the Val di Sangro, the small town of Perano (province of Chieti) preserves one of the region's most authentic folk masquerades: the Carnevaletto di Perano. This is not a parade of modern allegorical floats, but a community ritual rooted in the 1950s, which, after a period of decline, has been revived and kept alive by the dedication and passion of the local residents, both young and old.

Lu Pulgenelle, the Abruzzese Pulcinella

The central figure of the festival is Lu Pulgenelle, the traditional mask representing the Abruzzese Pulcinella, sharing history and characteristics with other carnivals across Abruzzo, Italy, and Europe. He wears a tall conical hat covered in white or colored fabric, adorned with pom-poms, rosettes, and ribbons, along with wool trousers and a shirt with red fringe. The entire ritual of the day revolves around him.

The questua and the procession

The festival begins with the questua through the streets of the historic village: Le Pulgenelle and Le Masciarielle walk through the alleys and neighborhoods in pairs, singing the ancient Carnival song while requesting food and traditional sweets. This is followed by the masked procession, orderly and accompanied by the team leader with a town crier's trumpet, marching with the float of the Dead Carnival King. Behind the procession, the masks impersonating the twelve months of the year follow.

The dramatization of the twelve months and the bonfire

The highlight is the dramatization of the twelve months in Piazza Monumento: introduced by Pulcinella, the months recount in verse the events that occurred in the village during the year, in a performance that blends satire, collective memory, and popular theater. The day concludes with the burning of the Carnival effigy, a ritual of destruction and regeneration that encapsulates the deep meaning of Carnival as a rite of passage, marking the boundary between the end of the old cycle and the beginning of the new one.

The Carnival Table

Following the performance, the community of Perano hosts the so-called Carnival Table, featuring a tasting of the town's typical dishes: a convivial moment that seals the day and strengthens the bonds of the village. The event is part of the Borghi Autentici d'Italia circuit and is a small gem for those seeking the most authentic Abruzzese Carnival, far from major tourist events.