Strozega de Santa Luzia — Piazze di Bedollo

The Strozega de Santa Luzia in Piazze di Bedollo

The Strozega de Santa Luzia is one of the most heartfelt and characteristic folk traditions in Trentino. In Piazze, a village in the municipality of Bedollo on the Piné Plateau (Autonomous Province of Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige), it is renewed every year on the eve of Saint Lucy's Day. On the evening of December 12th, the village streets fill with a cheerful and deafening procession of children, accompanied by parents and grandparents, all awaiting the arrival of the gift-bearing saint.

What is a "strozega"?

The name comes from the local Trentino dialect verb strozegar, meaning "to drag". The strozeghe are long strings of tin cans, tins, and containers tied together with twine or rope, often filled with stones to make even more noise. In the days leading up to the festival, children carefully prepare these noisy "tails," which they then drag through the village streets, creating as much racket as possible.

The meaning of the tradition

According to ancient legend, Saint Lucy is blind: the loud noise of the strozeghe is intended to grab her attention and guide her, during the night between December 12th and 13th, to the homes where children live, ensuring she doesn't forget to bring them gifts and sweets. In Trentino tradition, the saint travels on the back of a flying donkey; for this reason, along with milk and cookies for Lucy, children leave salt, flour, and carrots for her faithful animal.

A living tradition on the Piné Plateau

The strozega is widespread throughout Trentino, from major towns to small mountain villages, and is particularly rooted in the Valsugana and Piné Plateau areas. In Piazze di Bedollo, the event retains its simple, genuine character as a community festival, where generations come together in the village streets. At the end of the parade, it is customary in many locations to distribute sweets to children and hot drinks like tea and mulled wine to adults and children alike.