I Canti della Merla

The Merla Days

I Canti della Merla (The Songs of the Blackbird) celebrate in Soresina, in the province of Cremona, the ancient tradition of the Merla Days: January 29th, 30th, and 31st, according to legend the three coldest days of the year. It is one of the most heartfelt events of the Po Valley folklore, spread throughout the Cremona and Lodi areas, and Soresina is one of its most vibrant expressions.

The ritual of songs around the bonfire

The heart of the event is the gathering of choirs in peasant costume—women with skirts and shawls, men with cloaks and hats—around the large bonfires lit in the squares. Popular songs passed down through generations are sung, while mulled wine and traditional food are shared. It is a ritual that symbolically chases away the winter and the cold of January, bringing the community together at night.

Three evenings in the heart of Soresina

The Pro Loco Soresina offers three events over three days, with the main gathering in Piazza Garibaldi. The festival combines the choral dimension with conviviality, in an atmosphere that evokes the peasant civilization of the past, with fire, music, and collective memory.

A tradition to cherish

I Canti della Merla represent an intangible heritage of the Cremona territory, preserved and relaunched each year by local associations. In Soresina, as in other towns in the province, this tradition remains an event of identity that links the present to the rural roots of the Bassa region.