Grignasco Carnival — The Giubiacia

The Grignasco Carnival

In Grignasco, a small town in the Lower Valsesia area of the Novara province, Carnival is more than just a party: it is a collective ritual that spans the entire winter and involves the whole community. Organized by the Comitato Carnevale Grignasco - Trüna dal Giuan, the event has roots dating back to the late 19th century and was revived in 1978 by a group of friends eager to restore their local traditions.

The Masks: Giuan Bacéja and Mariana Curbèla

The undisputed protagonists are Giuan Bacéja and his wife Mariana Curbèla, two Lower Valsesia peasants born from the ironic spirit of Pinet Turlo, a cobbler-poet known throughout the valley for his writings in the local dialect. Giuan wears the bacéja around his neck, a wooden dish once used for cleaning rice; Mariana wanders the streets with the curbèla, the woven wicker basket used for shopping and gathering the fruits of the earth. They reign over the town throughout the carnival period.

From the Gran Trippa to the Giubiacia

The season opens on January 6th with the Gran Trippa in the square: the masks present themselves to the population alongside their entourage and distribute tripe in the town center and surrounding hamlets. This marks the start of a busy calendar of dinners and evenings at the Trüna dal Giuan, the Committee's headquarters on Via L. Testa, the true convivial heart of the festival. The most anticipated moment is the Giubiacia, on Shrove Thursday, when the town transforms into a whirlwind of masks, cheerful groups, bean stew in the square, entertainment, children's train rides, evening parades, and a grand masquerade ball with awards for the best groups.

A Living Tradition in Valsesia

Between the Valsesian dialect, popular gastronomy, and local satire, the Grignasco Carnival is a precious example of Alpine-Padan folklore. For those visiting Piedmont in winter, it is the perfect opportunity to discover a community that proudly guards its identity, far beyond the large tourist-driven carnivals of the region.