Ivrea Carnival, the historic event of the orange battle

Il Carnival of Ivrea is a great popular Civic Festival during which the community of Ivrea celebrates its ability to self-determination by recalling an episode of emancipation 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 Carnival of Ivrea is actually an event characterized by the complex ceremonial, culminating in the Historical Parade, full of historical-legendary evocations that draw on different historical eras: from medieval popular uprisings to the Napoleonic era, from the eighteenth century to the movements of the Risorgimento. And it is precisely during 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 recognized 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 uprising.

The Battle of the Oranges of the Ivrea Carnival

The famous Battle of the Oranges recalls 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 reminiscent of ancient armors. Throwing oranges thus has a symbolic value but is pure fun: a handshake, after a “head-to-head,” seals the peace. A special commission observes the course of the battle during its three days and awards a prize to the teams – both on foot and on the throwing carts – that have distinguished themselves the most for ardor, technique, and fairness.

As a sign of participation in the celebration, all citizens and visitors from Fat Thursday, 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.

An event rich in history, tradition, spectacle, emotions, and great ideals, involving the entire city of Ivrea with a total participation level of the eporediesi in all scheduled appointments with strict respect for the entire Ceremonial: a historical-cultural heritage worth knowing and experiencing in full.

Ivrea Carnival 2018, program

Saturday January 06, 2018

Previous editions of the Ivrea Carnival

The Ivrea Carnival 2017 Program

January 6: first outing of the Pipers and Drummers; 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): Bean feasts of Bellavista and San Giovanni; passing of the Book of Minutes from the Grand Chancellor to the Substitute; Prise du Drapeau; Raising of the Abbà; parade of the Historic Cortege.

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

and, Torre Balfredo and Saints Peter and Donato; presentation of the throwing floats and parade through the city streets; Reconciliation of the inhabitants of the San Maurizio and Borghetto districts on the Old Bridge; Raising of the Abbà; parade of the Historic Cortege; General assembly 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; parade of the Historic Cortege; Children’s party in Ottinetti square; bean feast Cuj d’via Palma; visit of the Historic Cortege to the Bishop and of the Abbà to the Mayor; Investiture of the Auditors and General Stewards of the Militias and War Peoples 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 Historic Cortege; torchlight procession and parade of the foot orange-throwing teams along Lungo Dora and Orange-Throwers’ festivals 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 floats on corso Massimo d’Azeglio and start of the first of the three days of Battle; Historic Cortege; 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): Zappate degli Scarli As pianta ‘lpich a l’uso antic; positioning of the throwing floats on corso Massimo d’Azeglio and start of the second day of Battle; Historic Cortege; tasting of cod with freshly fried onions at the headquarters of the Croatia Polenta and Cod Committee.

Tuesday, February 28 (Carnival Tuesday): positioning of the throwing floats on corso Massimo d’Azeglio and start of the third day of Battle; Historic Cortege; awarding of the throwing floats 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 a funeral march Advérze a giòbia ‘n bot.

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

Ivrea Carnival 2013

It is undoubtedly a unique and special 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 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 one of the oldest Carnivals overall and is also one of the first to start: on January 6th, in fact, the celebrations were officially launched, culminating – 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 of March (therefore the 6th). During these three days, the most elaborate celebrations of the Historical 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 have already seen a large turnout on the day of Epiphany. Everything is therefore ready to return to celebrating the Ivrea Carnival which, even in this 2010, will enliven the streets of the town from January 31 to February 17 with ceremonies, events, and historical reenactments still rich in meaning. As every year, the famous orange battle is unmissable, the true distinctive symbol of the Ivrea Carnival.