Pomigliano Popular Carnival

A carnival born from the land

The Pomigliano Popular Carnival is one of the most authentic expressions of Campanian peasant culture. In Pomigliano d'Arco, a city in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, the carnival is not merely a costume party but a true ritual-performance, deeply linked to seasonal cycles, agricultural labor, and animal husbandry. The first records of these performances date back to the late 15th century, and despite long periods of censorship imposed by the Church and ruling powers, the tradition has survived to this day in the city's courtyards and farmsteads.

The four souls of the tradition

The Pomigliano Popular Carnival consists of theatrical and musical performances that unfold during the festival days, forming its recognizable backbone:

• La Canzone di Zeza — a popular sung comedy, born in the 16th century in the tradition of the Commedia dell'Arte. It tells the story of the conflicted marriage between Vicenzella, Pulcinella's daughter, and Don Nicola, with her mother Zeza weaving intrigue behind her husband's back. The four characters embody the seasons: Pulcinella represents winter and the dying year, Zeza represents maturity and abundance, and the two young lovers represent summer and the autumn harvest.
• Gli Antichi Mestieri (Ancient Crafts) — a staging of vanished trades, from the poultry farmer to the cheesemaker producing ricotta and cheese, from the tinsmith to the ritual figures who warded off the evil eye and brought good luck to homes and families.
• I Dodici Mesi (The Twelve Months) — an allegorical procession of personified months, led by Marcusalemme, who recount in verse the weather, tools, hardships, and love troubles of every period of the year. Historically performed on horseback, it now takes place mostly on foot due to modern city street conditions.
• 'o Chianto a Muorto — the finale: the funeral lament for the death of Vincenzo Carnevale, performed with irony and improvisation by relatives, lovers, and authorities, marking the transition from carnival abundance to Lenten penance.

Keeping the tradition alive

The modern revival is thanks to the 'A Sunagliera Association of Popular Music and Culture, founded by Giovanni Sgammato Giovanni Sgammato in 2000 and active in Pomigliano d'Arco. Alongside Marcello Colasurdo and following the experience of the 'E Zezi group, the association has reconstructed lyrics, music, and masks through research into manuscripts and the oral memory of the elderly. The Carnival is held under the patronage of the Municipality of Pomigliano d'Arco and with the participation of local schools, which guide children through preparatory workshops.

Intangible Heritage of Campania

On December 15, 2025, at the Trianon Viviani Theater in Naples, the Pomigliano Carnival was inscribed in the Inventory of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Campania (IPIC) among the new elements cataloged by the Region. This recognition certifies what has been known in Pomigliano for generations: this carnival is not postcard folklore, but a living practice, passed from father to son and continuously renegotiated by the community.

What to expect

Visitors arriving in Pomigliano during the carnival days will find a widespread event rather than a stage performance: costumed groups roam the streets and squares, stopping in courtyards and in front of houses, involving passersby. The soundtrack is that of the Campanian tradition — tammorre, putipù, scetavajasse, accordion, and multi-register voices — and the language is the Pomiglianese dialect, with its double meanings and corrosive wit. Alongside the performances, there are ancient games for children, from sack races to tug-of-war, and convivial moments with traditional Neapolitan carnival sweets, from chiacchiere to sanguinaccio.

Why it's worth the trip

In a region like Campania, rich in spectacular carnivals and allegorical floats, the Pomigliano event chooses the opposite path: no monumental scenery, but a popular community theater that has survived five centuries almost intact. For those visiting Naples and the Vesuvius area in winter, it is a chance to see up close a tradition that Italian anthropology scholars cite as a textbook case, just a few kilometers from the regional capital and easily accessible.