J'Aboi – Historical Carnival of Ormea

A carnival that tells the story of a valley

Among the mountains of the Upper Tanaro Valley, in the municipality of Ormea (Province of Cuneo, Piedmont), J'Aboi is not your typical carnival of floats, but a folk re-enactment deeply rooted in the local heritage. Tradition holds that it dates back to the 10th century, when the inhabitants of the hamlets above Ormea defeated the Saracens who had been raiding the valley for decades. To celebrate their regained freedom, the victorious youths began traveling from village to village, playing music, dancing, and delivering messages to neighboring communities: from those celebrations, the carnival that still enlivens the Ormea hamlets today was born.

The J'Aboi masks

The heart of the festival lies in its masked characters, passed down from generation to generation and spoken of in the local Ormea dialect:

• Aboi Nairi — elegant dancers dressed in dark clothing with red and white ribbons;
• Aboi Gionchi — figures in white representing the women of the community;
• Patoci — guards armed with patlaca (wooden clubs), reminiscent of harlequins;
• Sunau — the musicians who accompany the dances and processions;
• Sarascii — the defeated Saracens, protagonists of the re-enactment;
• Cavagnau, El Veju e a Veja, U Spusu e a Spusa, Pè Culbea — comic and symbolic figures linked to the collection of gifts, the passage of time, and marriage.

The festival today

After decades of silence, the tradition was brought back to life in 2004 by a group of local youths who have preserved its authenticity. Today, J'Aboi takes place during the carnival period between the historic center of Ormea and the picturesque hamlet of Chionea, which can be reached on foot along the scenic Balconata di Ormea. The day alternates between moments in the characteristic Trevi (narrow alleys) of the historic center and the parade at altitude, featuring pranks, dances, songs, and the Ormea ribota, the final banquet open to all.

A collective local event

J'Aboi is organized by the Municipality of Ormea together with the Ulmeta Cultural Association, the Pro Loco Ormea, the CAI Ormea section, and the Rifugio Chionea: a network of associations that proves how much this festival truly belongs to the community. Admission is free, and the atmosphere is that of a genuine Piedmontese alpine carnival, far from mass tourism.