Rénga — Tradition of Ash Wednesday
Herring and polenta on the first day of Lent
About Rénga
A Lenten Dish
Rénga (from the dialect zena dèa rènga, meaning "herring dinner") is a gastronomic tradition typical of Ash Wednesday in Vittorio Veneto, in the province of Treviso, also found in Motta, Concordia, and along the left bank of the Piave river. It marks the entry into Lent with a simple and symbolic dish: smoked herring and polenta.
The Memory of Humble Cuisine
Herring, a fish from the Northern seas, has entered legend because, in times of poverty, it was the food of peasant families: inexpensive, nutritious, and easy to preserve. It is said that a single herring was hung in the center of the table and each diner would lightly rub their slice of polenta against it, so that this accompaniment would suffice for multiple meals.
The Tradition Today
Today, Rénga is renewed in Vittorio Veneto as a convivial event: inns and trattorias offer menus based on herring, accompanied as in the past by hot polenta and traditional side dishes. It is an event that celebrates Venetian humble cuisine and the collective memory of a community tied to its peasant roots.
Rénga — edition 2026
On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Ash Wednesday, Vittorio Veneto renewed the tradition of Rénga. On the first day of Lent, the city's inns and trattorias offered menus based on smoked herring and polenta, accompanied by traditional side dishes.
The custom, deeply rooted in the region's peasant culture, brought families and lovers of Venetian cuisine to the table, celebrating a humble dish that has become an identity symbol of the Vittorio Veneto area.
Programme Rénga 2026
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
- Menus featuring smoked herring and polenta offered by participating inns and trattorias in the center of Vittorio Veneto.
- Traditional side dishes (including leeks) to accompany the dish.
The tradition is convivial and widespread: each participating establishment offers its own interpretation of the dish. Reservations recommended.
Highlights Rénga 2026
Prices Rénga 2026
Practical information — Rénga
How to get there
The tradition involves inns and trattorias in the center of Vittorio Veneto, reachable by car (A27 motorway) and by train.
Participation
Herring and polenta menus offered by participating establishments on Ash Wednesday. Reservations recommended.
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Where does it take place — Rénga
Osterie e trattorie cittadine
Centro città, 31029 Vittorio Veneto