Investitura della Frola Galucet

A folk tradition in the Turin area

The Investitura della Frola Galucet is one of the most heartfelt events in San Raffaele Cimena, a small hillside municipality in the Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont. Held in spring on the evocative panoramic terrace of San Raffaele Alto, the event celebrates a symbolic female figure deeply rooted in the town's identity and linked to the historic Famija Pelacurdin, the association that preserves local masks and traditions.

The Pelacurdin and the Frola Galucet

The name Pelacurdin has its roots in the peasant life of the past: farm produce was tied with cords wrapped in sacks to protect it from the dust of dirt roads. At the market, the ingenious farmers of San Raffaele would collect the cords discarded by others to take home and "peel" (pelare). This playful nickname eventually became a carnival mask. The Frola Galucet is a more recent figure accompanying the Pelacurdin and the "frolere" (strawberry pickers), reflecting the town's horticultural vocation and the cultivation of strawberries, which has been part of the local economy and culture for centuries.

The ceremony and the parade

The highlight is the official investiture of the Frola Galucet, portrayed in recent years by Maria Carchia. The ceremony is surrounded by a grand costumed parade featuring about forty historical and folk groups from across Piedmont and the Aosta Valley, marching through the village streets accompanied by bands and entertainment.

A link to "Fragole e Frolere"

The investiture is part of the spring festival series in San Raffaele Cimena, including the "Fragole e Frolere" event, dedicated to strawberries and local traditions, featuring snacks, entertainment for all ages, and the promotion of typical products from the Turin hills.

Why attend

• An authentic slice of Piedmontese folklore just a few kilometers from Turin.
• A parade of numerous historical and folk groups in costume.
• The panoramic setting of San Raffaele Alto, overlooking the plains.
• An opportunity to discover the horticultural and peasant traditions of the municipality.