Vavo Carnival of Morigerati and Sicilì

An ancient fire ritual in the heart of Cilento

In the municipality of Morigerati, in the province of Salerno, and its hamlet of Sicilì, Carnival is more than just a celebration of masks and confetti: it is a rite of passage deeply rooted in the rural culture of Cilento. At the center of it all is the Vavo, also called Carlivaru in the local dialect, a rag and straw puppet that embodies Carnival itself and is set ablaze before the entire village at the end of the festivities.

Who is the Vavo?

The Vavo is a popular figure typical of this corner of Campania. Until the 1960s, some families in Morigerati and Sicilì used to hang the puppet outside their front doors throughout the Carnival period as a playful presence accompanying the community until Lent. With the depopulation of the villages and changing habits, the custom gradually faded, surviving almost exclusively in the stories of the elderly.

Its burning has a precise meaning: burning the Vavo symbolizes closing the door on winter, shedding the excesses of Carnival, and paving the way for spring through purifying fire. It follows the same ritual pattern found in many communities across the Southern Apennines, yet expressed here with a name and form unique to this territory.

The masquerade parade

The first day of the festival is dedicated to the masquerade parade, which winds through the alleys and small squares of the village. It features families, children, and teenagers, often wearing homemade costumes; prizes are awarded for the most original masks, a criterion that has encouraged many to rely more on imagination than on their wallets. Laughter, music, and convivial moments accompany the procession along the entire route.

The burning of the Vavo in Piazza Piano la Porta

The most anticipated moment arrives on Shrove Tuesday, when the puppet is brought to Piazza Piano la Porta, in the historic center of Morigerati, and burned before the gathered community. Generations come together around the bonfire: it is an occasion for the elderly to recount what Carnival was like in the past and for children to witness a ritual that was at risk of disappearing forever.

A tradition brought back to life by the Pro Loco

The credit for this rediscovery goes to the Pro Loco Morigerati - Sicilì APS, established on January 7, 2025, by eighteen founding members and immediately affiliated with the UNPLI, with Luca Vinci as president and Rosaria Di Mauro as vice-president. The Vavo Carnival was the association's first public event, created with the stated goal of promoting the natural beauty, history, and traditions of the area through cultural and social events. In the following months, the Pro Loco enlivened the local calendar with other initiatives, from summer games for children to the "Note Stellate" opera evening and the "Sicilì Summer Beats".

Morigerati and Sicilì, two villages to discover

Morigerati is a small municipality of just under six hundred inhabitants, perched in the Bussento Valley within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. Below the medieval village, the Bussento River re-emerges after a long underground journey: this is the WWF Grotte del Bussento Oasis, one of the most evocative nature reserves in Southern Italy. The hamlet of Sicilì lies nearby, at an altitude of about two hundred meters, about ten kilometers from the Gulf of Policastro. Participating in the Vavo Carnival means discovering a territory of great scenic value, in an area of Campania that remains off the mass tourism circuits.

The 2026 edition

As of the update date of this page, there are no official announcements regarding the dates and program for the 2026 edition. The festival follows the mobile calendar of Carnival, which changes every year: to stay informed, it is best to follow the channels of the Pro Loco Morigerati - Sicilì APS.