Historical Carnival of the Coumba Freida of Allein

The Carnival of the Coumba Freida

The Historical Carnival of the Coumba Freida is one of the most distinctive traditions of the Aosta Valley. "Coumba Freida" (Cold Valley) is the name given to the area between the Valpelline and the Gran San Bernardo valley, where every winter a series of municipalities celebrate their Carnival with the famous Landzette. In Allein, a small municipality in the region, Carnival is an event felt by the entire community.

The Landzette and the Legend of Napoleon

According to local tradition, the origins of the Carnival and its costumes are linked to the passage of Napoleon and his army through the Gran San Bernardo Pass in May 1800. The bright costumes of the Landzette are said to be a grotesque and allegorical re-enactment of the uniforms of the French soldiers of that era. Each element has an ancient symbolic meaning: the bear announces the arrival of spring, the mule tails represent the winds and ward off harmful air, the mirrors sewn onto the clothes repel evil spirits, and the color red embodies strength and vigor, protecting from misfortune.

Three Days of Celebration in the Hamlets

During the event, the masks — the benda — travel through the various hamlets of the municipality: they enter houses, dance in the streets and squares, and share food and drinks with the inhabitants. It is a community ritual that celebrates the end of winter and renews the bond between fellow villagers each year. In Allein, the route includes La Ville, La Vallettaz, Le Martinet, and Daillon, with the grand finale in La Ville.

A Heritage of the Aosta Valley Region

The Carnival of the Coumba Freida is considered among the most characteristic in the Aosta Valley Region: a living cultural heritage, passed down from generation to generation, which attracts curious visitors and lovers of Alpine traditions every year.