Ivrea Carnival, the historic event of the orange battle

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

Known to most for the spectacular orange battle that takes place every year for three days in the main squares of the city, the Ivrea Carnival is actually an event characterized by a complex ceremony, culminating in the Historical Parade, full of historical-legendary evocations drawing from various historical periods: from medieval popular uprisings to the Napoleonic era, from the eighteenth century to the movements of the Risorgimento. It is precisely in the Risorgimento period that the character of the Charming Miller’s Wife was born, a 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, in fact, 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 Battle of Oranges of the Ivrea Carnival

The famous Battle of Oranges recalls this very revolt: the people are represented by teams of orange-throwing foot soldiers who fight – without any protection – against the tyrant’s soldiers placed on carts pulled by horses wearing protections and masks that resemble ancient armor. Throwing oranges therefore has a symbolic meaning but is pure fun: a handshake, after a “head to head,” seals the peace. A special commission observes, during the three days of the event, the progress of the battle and awards a prize to the teams – both on foot and on 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 starting from Fat Thursday, following the General’s ordinance, take to the streets wearing the Phrygian Cap, a red sock-shaped hat that represents the ideal adherence to the revolt and therefore the aspiration to 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 of the inhabitants of Eporedia in all scheduled appointments, with a strict respect for all Ceremonial: a historical-cultural heritage worth knowing and experiencing in all its aspects.

Ivrea Carnival 2018, program

Saturday, January 06, 2018

The previous editions of the Ivrea Carnival

The Ivrea Carnival Program 2017

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 Ceri.

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

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

e, Torre Balfredo and Saints Pietro and Donato; presentation of the throwing carts and parade in the streets of the center; Reconciliation of the inhabitants of the districts of San Maurizio and Borghetto on the Old Bridge; Raising of the Abbà; parade of the Historical Procession; Generala in the city square.

Thursday, February 23 (Fat Thursday): transfer of civil powers from the Mayor of Ivrea to the General and putting on of the Phrygian Cap; parade of the Historical Procession; children’s party in Ottinetti square; bean feast Cuj d’via Palma; visit of the Historical Procession 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 Honor Guard of the Mugnaia; presentation of the Charming Mugnaia from the loggia of the Town Hall; march of the Historical Procession; torchlight parade and parade of the foot orange-throwing teams along Lungo Dora and Orange-throwers’ festivities 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; arranging of the throwing carts in corso Massimo d’Azeglio and start of the first of the three Battle days; Historical Procession; fireworks show on Lungo Dora; Gala evening with grand ball in honor of the Charming Mugnaia at the Giacosa Theatre.

Monday, February 27 (Carnival Monday): Hoeing of the Scarli As planting ‘lpich in the ancient style; arranging of the throwing carts in corso Massimo d’Azeglio and start of the second Battle day; Historical Procession; tasting of cod with freshly fried onions at the headquarters of the Croatia Committee Polenta and Cod.

Tuesday, February 28 (Carnival Tuesday): arranging of the throwing carts in corso Massimo d’Azeglio and start of the third Battle day; Historical Procession; awarding of the Throwing Carts and 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 followed by 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 special tradition: to participate in the celebrations of the Ivrea Carnival, you certainly need to book your spot as soon as possible in one of the local hotels and, for those coming from afar, it is advisable to look for a flight to Turin: on Odopo there are several, even in last minute combinations.

Ivrea Carnival 2012

The Ivrea Carnival is among the oldest Carnivals in existence and is also one of the first to start: on January 6th, 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 moments of gathering during the last two Sundays of February (thus the 20th and 27th) and the first Sunday of March (therefore the 6th). During these three days, the most elaborate celebrations of the Historic Carnival of Ivrea will take place, although from March 3 to 9 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 turnout on Epiphany day. Everything is therefore ready to celebrate the Ivrea Carnival again, which, also in this 2010, will enliven the town’s streets from January 31 to February 17 with ceremonies, events, and historical reenactments still rich in meaning. Unmissable, as every year, is the renowned orange battle, the true distinctive symbol of the Ivrea Carnival.