Sappada Carnival - Plodar Vosenòcht

A Carnival That Speaks Another Language

In Sappada, which is called Plodn in its ancient German-speaking dialect, carnival is not called carnival but Vosenòcht. We are in the far north of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in a German linguistic island surrounded by the Dolomites, where a community that arrived centuries ago from Carinthia has preserved its dialect, costumes, and rituals intact. The Plodar Vosenòcht is one of these rituals: an archaic carnival, far removed from confetti and floats, made of wooden masks, silence, and bells.

The Three Classes and the Three Sundays

The structure of the Sappada carnival is unique: three Sundays, each dedicated to a class of traditional society. It begins with Pèttlar Sunntach, the Sunday of the poor, continues with Paurn Sunntach, the Sunday of the farmers, and concludes with Hearn Sunntach, the Sunday of the lords. Each Sunday, the masks parade through a different hamlet of the village, from Granvilla to Cima and the stretch between Hoffe and Kratten, accompanied by the music of the Plodar kryner.

The Rollate, Lords of Winter

The symbolic mask is the Rollate: an imposing and severe figure, dressed in fur, with large spherical bells at the waist (the rolln, from which it takes its name), striped trousers, hobnailed boots, and a carved wooden mask (lòrvn) with marked, mountain-like features. The scarves around their necks, according to tradition, indicate the marital status of the wearer. The Rollate come out especially on Shrove Monday, walking through the village streets with their slow pace and the clang of their bells.

A Heritage to Preserve

The wooden masks are passed down from generation to generation and carved by skilled local artisans. The Sappada Carnival is part of the Archaic Dolomite Masquerades, which are being nominated for intangible heritage status, and represents one of the most precious cultural assets of the area. The event is organized by Visit Sappada Dolomiti with the support of the Municipality of Sappada and the Province of Udine.

Atmosphere

Witnessing the passage of the Rollate, in the February cold and among the wooden houses of the hamlets, is an unforgettable experience. It is a serious and profound carnival, where play and transgression coexist with the collective memory of a community that continues to recognize itself in its roots.