Historical Carnival of San Pietro in Casale

A tradition dating back to 1871

The Historical Carnival of San Pietro in Casale is one of the most deeply rooted events in the festive calendar north of Bologna. Its history began in 1871, when a group of locals founded a society to organize carnival celebrations and chose Sandròn Spaviròn as the festival's sovereign, a figure of Modenese origin borrowed from puppet theater. Since then, the Carnival has been renewed every year, passing down through generations a heritage of folklore, popular irony, and community identity that is a rightful part of Emilia-Romagna's traditions.

The parades of the floats

The central moment of the event is the parades of the floats, which traverse the historic center of the Municipality of San Pietro in Casale on two distinct Sundays. The floats, carefully built in the preceding months, are numerous, spectacular, and often animated: accompanied by masked groups, choreography, and music, they parade in the afternoon amidst confetti, streamers, and sweets distributed to the public. It is a festival designed for all ages, where families and children are the protagonists.

King Sandròn and the reading of the will

The most anticipated and iconic event is the reading of the "will" of King Sandròn Spaviròn, held on the evening of the last parade day. The mask, impersonated by a local, delivers in Bolognese dialect rhyme a sharp satire dedicated to the events, characters, and small happenings of the past year. The reading is followed by the traditional burning of the mask, represented by an effigy burned in the square, a ritual that symbolically closes the Carnival and marks the farewell to the festival.

Children's Carnival and Hamlets

The event opens with the Children's Carnival, dedicated to the youngest and the local hamlets, with activities, entertainment, and games. During the days, there are no shortage of food stalls with local specialties, dinner in the square, and the drawing of prizes from the traditional Carnival lottery.

An event for the entire territory

Organized by the Associazione Cranvel ed San Pir in Casel with the patronage of the Municipality of San Pietro in Casale, the Historical Carnival is a free, family-friendly event that attracts visitors from all over the Metropolitan City of Bologna. It represents one of the most significant historical carnivals in Emilia-Romagna and an opportunity to discover the vibrant folklore of the Bolognese plain.