Traditional San Visent Dance

A winter rite of Carnia

In Ovasta, a hamlet of Ovaro in the heart of Carnia, the month of January brings an event that has its roots in the mists of time: the Traditional San Visent Dance, in honor of Saint Vincent, celebrated on January 22nd. More than a festival, it is a social rite that unites families through movement, music, and shared cultural memory.

The throwing of the cidulas

The heart of the evening is the throwing of the cidulas, an ancient symbolic gesture of the Carnic tradition: small wooden discs, set alight, are hurled into the night from a special ramp, drawing luminous trails in the winter darkness. It is a rite of good wishes that is repeated every year in the same place, near the fountain, marking the transition from afternoon to evening and the start of the celebration.

After the throwing, the evening continues at the Ovasta Dairy with traditional folk dances and music, in an atmosphere of strong community participation. The event is organized by the Fractional Property Administration of Ovasta with the collaboration of the village youth.

Carnia that endures

The San Visent Dance is living proof of an alpine culture that withstands time. For those who wish to discover the most authentic Carnia, it is a rare opportunity to witness a community rite, where participation, not spectacle, is what counts, in one of the most evocative valleys of Friuli.