Battle of oranges in Ivrea Jan 25, 2010
Storico Carnevale di Ivrea, a traditional festival in Italy, will take place between the 13th and the 16th of February. The festival takes place in a town called Ivrea, located in the Piedmont region. The main entertainment comes during the battle, when some fresh (…and not so fresh) oranges serve as ammunition. They say it's an old Italian tradition that has its history dating back to the beginning of the 12th Century. They also say that the holiday in Ivrea is the only carnival in the world to have roots in actual events and characters.
According to the legend, local townsfolk have revolted against a cruel tyrant who ruled the town. The people destroyed the tyrant's castle, and then they organized a big festival in the town square to celebrate their victory. The popular gathering gradually transformed into a game battle with the servants of the ruler. Those who throw oranges from carriages symbolize the guards, and the people below, the attackers, are the revolting townsfolk.
There is a second legend as well. According to this legend a local general decided to take advantage of primae noctis "the lord's right", but the proud bride – daughter of a miller – stabbed the tyrant, and the townsfolk that rose to help her, fought back against the guards who tried to arrest her. Why oranges, you ask? Initially the townsfolk used beans, but around the middle of the 19th Century girls started throwing oranges at young men they admire. If the guy responded with reciprocity he would have to throw the orange back.
Today the festival is a real contest with its own rules and teams. In the beginning every town quarter organized the battles to their want and liking, resulting sometimes in very serious resistance. When Napoleon occupied this part of Italy in 1808 he ordered the participants to unite and those who kept the order would have to wear the uniform of his army. The tradition remains preserved to this day, and now, to avoid getting bombarded with oranges all you have to do is wear a red hat similar to those worn by French revolutionaries.
An orange spirit covers the town during the carnival – all the streets are filled with squashed oranges. Everybody is invited to try a traditional local dish – fagioli grassi, served in a large bowl with beans, seared with pork sausages. You can also try cod with corn – a holiday special.
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