Carnival in Casentino

The traditional Carnival in Rassina, in the municipality of Castel Focognano, was born as a village festival from the idea of a group of friends who were able to gather about fifteen organizers since 1959, thus becoming the promoters of the Carnival festival. Everyone in the village immediately engaged in building the first two historical floats (the ship and the toy train) with salvaged materials. Later, to renovate and build new floats, materials were recovered from Viareggio, Foiano della Chiana and Anghiari. To make the parade more and more beautiful and scenic in the following years, other floats and various animations were included: from Disney characters to superheroes.

The Carnival of Rassina has maintained the “historical” characteristics and the same desire for fun as in the past. A characteristic event is the cuccagnata, on the last Sunday of Carnival, at which quintals of cannelloni topped with sauce are served free of charge.

The dates for the 2024 Rassina Carnival are: January 28, February 4 and finally February 11 with free cuccagna for everyone!

At the center of the Carnival celebrations of Bibbiena is a local legend: the story goes that the beautiful washerwoman Bartolomea, known as “Mea” and betrothed to the weaver Cecco, while returning to the castle with her laundry, crossed paths with the young Tarlati, son of Count Piero, resulting in an idyll between the two. Cecco the weaver, feeling abandoned, set out in search of the truth and learned of the secret affair. Violent clashes ensued between the gentlemen’s quarter, the Piazzolini quarter, and the working-class Fondaccini quarter.

The wise Count Tarlati, to prevent further harm to his people, gathered everyone to the center of the village, bringing the two factions together. In front of everyone, he returned Mea to the Fondaccio and his Cecco, thus ending all discord.

Once Mea was returned to its people, as a sign of joy, the “Pomo” of peace was burned in the square. In remembrance of this and other events, between legend and history, every year in Bibbiena, on the last day of Carnival, the so-called “Bello Pomo” is burned, and people flock from the countryside to witness it, and the Mea is chosen from among the village’s adult girls.

On Sundays of January 28 and February 4, 11, 2024, the historic center of Subbiano will be transformed for the Children’s Carnival, which has been cheering and entertaining young and old for more than twenty years.

The event features a fun series of free events along the entire Carnival circuit. From 2 p.m. the parade of floats through the streets of Subbiano starts, accompanied by folk and music bands, performances with dancing and masks.

On Carnival Sundays: tasting of typical local dishes including ciacce (Tuscan focaccia), fritters, sandwiches with porchetta and barbecued sausage, roasted chestnuts until the final day with the cuccagna when macaroni with sauce and wine free of charge for everyone will be distributed. The “cuccagna” ends with the funeral of King Giocondo who, escorted by children with striking lanterns, accompany him to the traditional bonfire in the main square.

The ancient Carnival in Stia began in 1889 with floats and costumed groups. During the last Sunday, the Maschera d'Oro (Golden Mask) contest is held, which awards prizes to the best individual masks and groups. The Stia Carnival is characterized by the numerous and fine workmanship of the costumes and floats and the participation of people of all ages.

Further information on the events in Casentino are available on the website casentino.it