Historical Carnival of the Coumba Freida of Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses

The Carnival of the Coumba Freida in Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses

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 Great St Bernard valley, where each winter a series of municipalities celebrate their carnival with the famous Landzette. In Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, in the province of Aosta, the last village before the pass to Switzerland, the carnival takes on a special significance: it is here, along the Great St Bernard road, that legend places the passage of the troops that inspired the costumes of the masked figures.

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 Bonaparte and his army through the Great St Bernard Pass in May 1800, during the Italian campaign. The colourful costumes of the Landzette recall, in a grotesque and allegorical way, the uniforms of the French soldiers of that era. Each element has a symbolic and apotropaic meaning: the wooden mask on the face, the mirrors and beads that ward off evil spirits, the horse's tail, the bells, and the colour red that protects from misfortune.

Door-to-door Procession through the Hamlets

In Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, the benda (procession) of masked figures travels through the main village and its hamlets, including the village of Saint-Léonard, with door-to-door visits to the inhabitants. The masked figures enter homes, dance in the streets and squares, and share food and drinks with those who welcome them, according to a community ritual passed down through generations. Carnival Sunday and Shrove Tuesday are the key days of the celebrations.

A Living Heritage of the Aosta Valley

The Carnival of the Coumba Freida is considered among the most characteristic in the Aosta Valley Region and involves, in addition to Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, the neighbouring municipalities of Saint-Oyen, Étroubles, Allein, Bionaz, Doues, and Ollomont. The nearby village of Allein hosts the Museum of the Carnival of the Coumba Freida, dedicated to the history, costumes, and symbols of this ancient Alpine custom. An opportunity to discover an authentic corner of the Great St Bernard valley.