Ivrea Carnival, the historic event of the orange battle

The Ivrea Carnival is a major Popular Civic Festival during which the community of Ivrea celebrates its ability to self-determine by recalling an episode of emancipation from tyranny dating back to the Middle Ages.

Known by most for the spectacular orange battle held annually over three days in the main squares of the city, the Ivrea Carnival is actually an event characterized by a complex ceremonial, culminating in the Historical Parade, rich with historical-legendary evocations drawing from different historical periods: from medieval popular uprisings to the Napoleonic era, from the 18th century to the moves of the Risorgimento. It is precisely in the Risorgimento period that the character of the Vezzosa Mugnaia is born, symbol of freedom and heroine of the festival who, accompanied by the General of Napoleonic origin, is the female protagonist of the oldest Carnival in Italy.

The spirit of the Historical Carnival lives, indeed, in the reenactment of an episode of liberation from tyranny: a baron (historically identified as the Marquis of Monferrato) who starved the city was driven out thanks to the rebellion of Violetta, the daughter of a miller who refused to submit to the ius primae noctis and who, by killing him, sparked the popular revolt.

The Orange Battle of the Ivrea Carnival

The famous Orange Battle recalls precisely this revolt: the people are represented by teams of foot orange throwers who fight – without any protection – against the tyrant’s soldiers on carts pulled by horses wearing armor and masks reminiscent of ancient armors. Throwing oranges thus has a symbolic meaning but is pure fun: a handshake after a “head to head” marks the peace. A special commission monitors the battle during its three days and awards a prize to the teams – both on foot and the throwing carts – that have distinguished themselves the most for passion, technique, and fairness.

As a sign of participation in the festival, all citizens and visitors from Fat Thursday onward, by order of the General, take to the streets wearing the Phrygian Cap, a red sock-shaped hat representing the ideal adherence to the revolt and thus the aspiration to freedom, as it was for the protagonists of the French Revolution.

A manifestation rich in history, tradition, spectacle, emotions, and great ideals, involving the whole city of Ivrea with a total participation of the locals in all scheduled events with strict respect for the entire ceremonial: a historical-cultural heritage worth knowing and experiencing fully.

Ivrea Carnival 2018, program

Saturday, January 6, 2018

Previous editions of the Ivrea Carnival

Ivrea Carnival 2017 program

January 6: first outing of Pipe and Drum players; opening march of the 2017 Carnival and official investiture of the General. Mass at the Cathedral and Ceremony of the Candles.

Sunday, February 12 (Third to last Carnival Sunday): Bellavista and San Giovanni bean feasts; transfer of the Book of Minutes from the Grand Chancellor to the Substitute; Prise du Drapeau; Raising of the Abbàs; Historical Parade.

Sunday, February 19 (Second to last Carnival Sunday): Bean feasts of Montenavale, Cuj dij Vign

e, Torre Balfredo, and Saints Peter and Donatus; presentation of the throwing carts and parade through the city center; Reconciliation of the inhabitants of the San Maurizio and Borghetto districts on the Old Bridge; Raising of the Abbàs; Historical Parade; Generala in the city square.

Thursday, February 23 (Fat Thursday): transfer of civil powers from the Mayor of Ivrea to the General and Wearing of the Phrygian Cap; Historical Parade; Children’s festival in Ottinetti square; Cuj d’via Palma bean feast; visit of the Historical Parade to the Bishop and of the Abbàs to the Mayor; Investiture of the Auditors and General Quartermasters of the Militias and War People of Canavese; City celebration.

Saturday, February 25 (Fat Saturday): presentation of the Honor Guard of the Mugnaia; presentation of the Vezzosa Mugnaia from the loggia of the Town Hall; march of the Historical Parade; torchlight fun procession and parade of the foot orange throwing teams along Lungo Dora and celebrations of the orange throwers in the city squares.

Sunday, February 26 (Carnival Sunday): Bean feasts of Castellazzo, San Lorenzo, via Dora Baltea, and San Bernardo; Ceremony of the Prey in Dora; positioning of the throwing carts on Massimo d’Azeglio avenue and start of the first of the three days of Battle; Historical Parade; fireworks show on Lungo Dora; Gala evening with grand ball in honor of the Vezzosa Mugnaia at the Giacosa Theater.

Monday, February 27 (Carnival Monday): Hoeing of the Scarli As pianta ‘lpich in the old style; positioning of the throwing carts on Massimo d’Azeglio avenue and start of the second day of Battle; Historical Parade; tasting of cod with freshly fried onions at the Polenta and Cod Croatia Committee headquarters.

Tuesday, February 28 (Carnival Tuesday): positioning of the throwing carts on Massimo d’Azeglio avenue and start of the third day of Battle; Historical Parade; awarding of the throwing carts and foot teams; burning of the Scarli in the various districts and burning in presence of the Mugnaia in the city square; burning of the last Scarlo in Lamarmora square followed by a funeral march Advérze a giòbia ‘n bot.

Wednesday, March 1 (Ash Wednesday): Polenta and Cod in Lamarmora square.

Ivrea Carnival 2013

This is undoubtedly a very special and practically unique tradition: to participate in the celebrations of the Ivrea Carnival you certainly need to book your place as soon as possible in one of the area’s hotels and, for those coming from far away, it is advisable to look for a flight to Turin: on Opodo there are several, including last minute options.

Ivrea Carnival 2012

The Ivrea Carnival is one of the oldest Carnivals ever and is also one of the first to start: on January 6, in fact, the celebrations officially began that will culminate – as tradition dictates – in the three days of the Battle of the Oranges.

Ivrea Carnival 2011

The Ivrea Carnival 2011 will have its moments of greatest gathering during the last two Sundays of February (thus on the 20th and 27th) and the first of March (thus the 6th). During these three days, the most elaborate celebrations of the Historical Ivrea Carnival will take place, although from March 3 to 9 there will be many related events already scheduled.

Ivrea Carnival 2010

The early celebratory and inaugural phases of the Ivrea Carnival already saw large participation on Epiphany. Everything is therefore ready to celebrate the Ivrea Carnival which, even in 2010, will animate the streets of the town from January 31 to February 17 with ceremonies, events, and historical reenactments still rich in meaning. Unmissable, as every year, is the renowned battle of the oranges, the true unique symbol of the Ivrea Carnival.