Historical Carnival of Coumba Freida in Ollomont

The most unusual carnival in the Alps

The Historical Carnival of Coumba Freida (the "cold valley") is one of the oldest and most evocative traditions of the Aosta Valley, which every year enlivens the municipalities of the Great St. Bernard Valley and Valpelline. Ollomont, in the province of Aosta, is the first town to open the season, kicking off a calendar that runs from January to February in numerous villages.

The 'landzette', Napoleonic masks

The absolute protagonists are the 'landzette': masks with covered faces and flamboyant costumes that recall the uniforms of Napoleonic soldiers. According to tradition, in fact, the carnival originates from Napoleon's passage through the Great St. Bernard Pass in 1800. The costumes, entirely handmade, are authentic works of art: adorned with beads, sequins (up to 30,000 per costume!) and small mirrors that reflect light and, according to beliefs, ward off evil spirits. Belts of bells and horse or mule tails complete the disguise, with a strong propitiatory value.

Rites, symbols, and community

Symbolic figures appear in the procession, such as the bear, representing the arrival of spring, and the color red, a symbol of strength and protection from evil. The masks visit the village families, dance in the streets and squares, sharing food and drinks in a collective ritual that renews community bonds. Custodian of this heritage is also the Meison di Carnaval de la Coumba Freida, an ethnographic museum dedicated to the carnival, housed in the village of Allein.