Putignano Carnival

The oldest Carnival in Europe

The Putignano Carnival, held in the town of Putignano in the province of Bari, is considered the oldest and longest-running in Europe. Tradition traces its origins to 1394, when the relics of Saint Stephen the Protomartyr were moved from Monopoli to the Murgia hinterland to safeguard them from Saracen incursions. According to local folklore, farmers grafting vines abandoned their fields to join the procession, breaking into songs, dances, and mocking verses: thus was born the Propaggini ritual, which still officially opens every edition on December 26th.

Papier-mâché floats

The heart of the event lies in the grand parades of allegorical floats—authentic works of papier-mâché art crafted over months in workshops by local masters. Standing several meters high and often featuring complex mechanical movements, these floats stage sharp, topical satire, with figures poking fun at politics, society, and contemporary customs. Masked groups and traditional characters parade alongside them, bringing the historic center to life.

Farinella and the masks

The iconic mask is Farinella, a jester in a colorful patchwork costume with a three-pointed hat adorned with bells. His name is derived from a traditional peasant dish made of chickpea flour and toasted barley. Reimagined in the 1950s, he embodies the witty and ironic spirit of Putignano.

Traditional rituals

The Putignano Carnival thrives on unique identity-driven rituals: the Propaggini on December 26th, where poets recite satirical verses in local dialect; the Bear Festival (Festa dell'Orso) on Candlemas, February 2nd, featuring two massive three-meter-tall papier-mâché bears that symbolically mark the transition from winter to spring; and the Campana dei Maccheroni (Macaroni Bell) on Shrove Tuesday, with its 365 tolls marking the end of the festivities and the beginning of Lent, accompanied by communal street meals of macaroni.

A heritage of Puglia

With over six centuries of history, the Putignano Carnival is much more than a party: it is a cultural heritage that draws tens of thousands of visitors to Puglia every year, blending folk tradition, papier-mâché craftsmanship, live music, and performances. The Putignano Carnival Foundation coordinates a calendar of over a hundred events that animate the town for weeks.