Historical Carnival of the Coumba Freida of Doues

The Carnival of the Coumba Freida in Doues

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 Doues, a small municipality in the province of Aosta, the event is known as Le Gran Carnaval de Doues and is experienced with great participation 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 colourful costumes of the Landzette are said to be a grotesque and allegorical evocation of the uniforms of the French soldiers of that era. Each element has an ancient symbolic meaning: the bear announces spring, the mule tails represent the winds and ward off harmful air, the small mirrors sewn onto the clothes repel evil spirits, and the red colour protects from misfortune.

Two Days of Celebration in the Hamlets

In Doues, the benda (group of masked revellers) sets off at dawn and travels through the hamlets of the village: Javiod, Lusey, Chatellair, Prabas, Le Coudrey, La Cerise, Torrent, and also Champsavinal, Meylan and La Chenal, up to the main centre. The masked figures enter houses, dance in the streets, and share food and drinks with the inhabitants, in a community ritual celebrating the end of winter. In the evening, the masked ball in the sports pavilion and the award ceremony for the patoille — the most amusing masked figures — conclude the days.

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 fans of Alpine traditions every year. The nearby municipality of Allein hosts the Museum of the Carnival of the Coumba Freida, dedicated to this ancient custom.