I Magnin

A mask that beats at the heart of Frossasco's Carnival

In Frossasco, a small town in the Province of Turin at the foot of the Pinerolo Alps, Carnival has only one name: I Magnin. This traditional local mask, born from the Piedmontese peasant and artisan world, returns to invade the village streets every year on the night between Shrove Thursday and Friday. The protagonists are the town's young conscripts, who transform into chimney sweeps for one night: wearing wide black capes, dark hats, and, above all, faces and hands covered in soot—the unmistakable mark of the fire trade.

The origins: coppersmiths, chimney sweeps, and conscripts

The tradition has its roots in a rural Piedmont that has long since faded. The Magnin evoke the ancient coppersmiths and chimney sweeps who traveled the countryside offering their services in exchange for food like eggs, wine, cured meats, and cheese. The festival was also linked to the conscripts' rite of passage: it was the young men preparing for military service who would dress as Magnin, collecting donations for charity. A community gesture that has spanned decades; while they once used carts, the Magnin have been traveling by tractor for about forty years.

How the night of the Magnin unfolds

The ritual begins at nightfall on Shrove Thursday and continues until the following morning. The young men, blackened from head to toe, travel through the town sounding a siren to announce their arrival. They knock on doors, visit the young women of their age, and collect donations from the residents.

• Nighttime tour through the historic streets of Frossasco
• Visits to the local young women and families
• Collection of monetary donations for charitable organizations
• The following morning, visits to the nursery, primary, and middle schools

The plandrasa and the joy of the festival

An essential figure of the procession is the plandrasa, a young Magnin dressed as a woman in flashy, provocative clothing, adding color and comedy to the night. It is one of the most anticipated elements by the residents and contributes to the festive, rowdy atmosphere.

A tradition kept alive by the community

Coordinated by the Pro Loco of Frossasco, the Magnin festival stands the test of time thanks to the commitment of each new generation of conscripts. The donations collected are donated annually to charities chosen by the group, confirming the spirit of solidarity that has always accompanied this custom. The Magnin are not an exclusively Frossasco phenomenon—the tradition exists with some variations in other parts of Piedmont—but in Frossasco, it maintains a unique identity that binds entire generations of the town together.