The Carnival of Foiano is held every year in the Tuscan city of Foiano della Chiana, 28 km from Arezzo.
It claims to be the oldest carnival in Italy, with records dating back to 1539.
It is an event very dear to the town, which considers it as important to Foiano as the Palio is to Siena.
The festival takes its origins from medieval propitiatory rituals meant to pacify the townspeople and create a joyous atmosphere to bring in the new year.
There are four rival districts, or cantieri, competing: Bombolo (plump), Rustici (rustic), Azzurri (the oldest 鈥 blue) and Nottambuli (night owls). Each team works an entire year to build their carriage 鈥 they are showcased the four Sundays of the event, and, on the last Sunday, a special jury declares the winner, who will be awarded the Coppa del Carnevale (Carnival Cup).
Originally, the floats were town carriages and carri matti from where food treats were thrown out to the crowd. The floats are now made of papier-mach茅; they have allegorical or political subjects, and sometimes feature current events, famous people or popular culture characters. This year, they will tell the story of Italy struggling with the crisis.
The Foiano celebration ends when the 鈥淕iocondo,鈥 an effigy made of straw and rags representing the King of Carnival, is burned in the main square, as a symbol of collective purification for the community. Before the burning, a testament of the year鈥檚 events is read aloud as an epilogue for the past year and a prologue to the new year.
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