Mascerada degli Achedi

A carnival rite that returns only every four or five years

The Mascerada degli Achedi, also known as the Coredana Masquerade, is one of the most ancient and anticipated carnival events in Trentino-Alto Adige. It takes place in Coredo, a historic village in the municipality of Predaia, in the heart of Val di Non, overlooking the Brenta Dolomites. Its uniqueness lies in its rarity: the Mascerada is not an annual appointment, but returns only every four or five years, making each edition a defining event for the entire community.

The story of the Kellera and the Bekar

The heart of the event is a true popular operetta performed in the Trentino dialect: a story of love and jealousy built around the Kellera, the young daughter of the local innkeeper, and the Bekar, the butcher tasked with protecting her from rival suitors. Until a few editions ago, the Kellera was played by a man, in accordance with ancient custom. Moving around these two protagonists is a rich procession of traditional masks: angels (l'anzol) and devils (el diaol), hunters, the 'baffoni' (mustachioed men), 'El Bufa' with his pig bladder, and the grandmother and grandfather 'Bomba' who distribute sweets to children.

The procession through the village streets

On the day of the festival, a long procession winds through the streets of Coredo, featuring the musicians' float, the Coredo Band, and the local theatre group wearing high-value historical costumes, some of which are preserved at the Museum of Customs and Traditions of the Trentino People in San Michele all'Adige. Along the route, the procession makes scheduled stops where associations and citizens welcome the masks with refreshments, sweets, and mulled wine; it is at these points that the operetta of the Kellera and the Bekar is performed, accompanied by the original music of the 'Sparzinelle'.

Tradition, community, and gastronomy

The Mascerada is organized by the Association of the Traditional Coredana Masquerade with the patronage of the Municipality of Predaia and the participation of numerous local entities, including the Mini Lacchè Folk Group with their characteristic colorful uniforms and truncated pointed hats. An unmissable moment of the day is the sgnocolada, the grand preparation of traditional Val di Non potato gnocchi, which brings the entire community together in the square. The Mascerada degli Achedi is thus much more than a carnival: it is a living heritage where language, music, dance, costumes, and cuisine are passed down from generation to generation.