Carnival of Ivrea, the historic event of the orange battle

Il Carnaval d’Ivrea es una gran Fiesta Cívica popular durante la cual la comunidad de Ivrea celebra su capacidad de autodeterminación recordando un episodio de liberación de la tiranía que se remonta a la Edad Media.

Conocido por la mayoría por la espectacular batalla de las naranjas que se celebra cada año durante tres días en las principales plazas de la ciudad, el Carnaval de Ivrea es en realidad un evento que se caracteriza por el complejo ceremonial, que culmina en el Desfile Histórico, lleno de evocaciones histórico-legendarias que abarcan diferentes épocas históricas: desde las revueltas populares medievales hasta la época napoleónica, desde el siglo XVIII hasta los movimientos del Risorgimento. Y es precisamente en el periodo del Risorgimento cuando nace el personaje de la Coqueta Molinera, símbolo de libertad y heroína de la fiesta que, acompañada por el General de origen napoleónico, es la protagonista femenina del Carnaval más antiguo de Italia.

El espíritu del Carnaval Histórico vive, de hecho, en la rememoración de un episodio de liberación de la tiranía: un barón (históricamente reconocido como el Marqués de Monferrato) que tenía hambrienta a la ciudad fue expulsado gracias a la rebelión de Violetta, la hija de un molinero que no quiso someterse al ius primae noctis y que, al matarlo, encendió la revuelta popular.

The Battle of the Oranges of the Ivrea Carnival

The famous Battle of the Oranges commemorates this very revolt: the people are represented by teams of orange throwers on foot who fight – without any protection – against the tyrant’s soldiers placed on carts pulled by horses wearing protections and masks that recall ancient armor. Throwing oranges therefore has a symbolic value but is pure fun: a handshake, after a “head-to-head,” seals the peace. A special commission observes the progress of 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 enthusiasm, technique, and fairness.

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

An event rich in history, tradition, spectacle, emotions, and great ideals, involving the entire city of Ivrea with total participation from the Eporediesi in all scheduled events, with a rigorous respect for the entire Ceremony: a historical-cultural heritage worth knowing and experiencing fully.

Ivrea Carnival 2018, program

Saturday, January 06, 2018

The previous editions of the Ivrea Carnival

The Ivrea Carnival 2017 program

January 6: first outing of the Pifferi and Tamburi; opening march of the 2017 Carnival and official investiture of the General. Holy Mass in the Cathedral and Ceremony of the Candles.

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

Sunday, February 19 (Penultimate Sunday of Carnival): Montenavale, Cuj dij Vign

e, Torre Balfredo and Saints Peter and Donato bean meals; presentation of throwing floats and parade through the city center streets; Reconciliation of the inhabitants of the San Maurizio and Borghetto districts on the Old Bridge; Raising of the Abbà; parade of the Historical Parade; General in the city square.

Thursday, February 23 (Fat Thursday): passage of civil powers from the Mayor of Ivrea to the General and Donning of the Phrygian Cap; parade of the Historical Parade; Children’s party in Ottinetti square; Cuj d’via Palma bean meal; visit of the Historical Parade to the Bishop and of the Abbà to the Mayor; Investiture of the Auditors and General Intendants of the Militias and War People of Canavese; City in Celebration.

Saturday, February 25 (Fat Saturday): presentation of the Mugnaia’s Honor Guard; presentation of the Beautiful Mugnaia from the balcony of the Municipal Palace; march of the Historical Parade; playful torchlight procession and parade of the on-foot orange-throwing teams along Lungo Dora and Orange Throwers’ festivities in the city squares.

Sunday, February 26 (Carnival Sunday): Castellazzo, San Lorenzo, via Dora Baltea and San Bernardo bean meals; Ceremony of the Prey in Dora; alignment of the throwing floats on corso Massimo d’Azeglio 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 Beautiful Mugnaia at the Giacosa Theater.

Monday, February 27 (Carnival Monday): Zappate of the Scarli As pianta ‘lpich a l’uso antic; alignment of the throwing floats on corso Massimo d’Azeglio and start of the second day of Battle; Historical Parade; tasting of cod with freshly fried onions at the headquarters of the Polenta and Cod Croatia Committee.

Tuesday, February 28 (Carnival Tuesday): alignment of the throwing floats on corso Massimo d’Azeglio and start of the third day of Battle; Historical Parade; awarding of the throwing floats and on-foot teams; burning of the Scarli in the various districts and burning in the presence of the Mugnaia in the city square; burning of the last Scarlo in Lamarmora square and then 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 unique and peculiar tradition: to participate in the celebrations of the Ivrea Carnival, one should definitely book their place as soon as possible in one of the local hotels and, for those arriving from afar, it is advisable to look for a flight to Turin: on Opodo there are several, even in last minute combinations.

Ivrea Carnival 2012

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

Ivrea Carnival 2011

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

Ivrea Carnival 2010

The first celebratory and inaugural phases of the Ivrea Carnival already saw a large participation on the day of Epiphany. Everything is therefore ready to celebrate the Ivrea Carnival again which, also in this 2010, will enliven the streets of the town from January 31 to February 17 with ceremonies, events, and historical reenactments still full of meaning. Unmissable, as every year, is the renowned orange battle, a true peculiar symbol of the Ivrea Carnival.