Special Events and Festivals in Italy

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By John Dulaney

Carnevale Festival in Italy
Celebrated 40 days before Easter, Carnevale is a large festival held before Ash Wednesday. The biggest celebrations are held in Viareggio, Ivrea and Venice. Carnevale celebrations are held in many cities around the world.
Celebrate the New Year in Italy
Italians bring in the New Year with music, dancing and fireworks. Celebrations may vary from one town to the next.
Festa della Madonna Bruna in Matera, Italy
This is a unique festival held in southern Italy in July. The festival's highlight comes when a Carro carrying the Madonna is destroyed. The Carro is made of papier mache and takes an entire year to create. Making the Carro is a skill passed down from one generation to the next.

A Look at Some Popular Sicilian Festivals

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By James Iozia

Sicilian festivals are important to the people of Sicily. While many revolve around religious holidays, carnivals are considered secular events. They are traditionally held in the week preceding the beginning of Lent. Originally the festivals were intended to use up fresh food, since Lent is a time of prayer and fasting.
Some of the more famous carnivals are held in the communes of Sciacca, Acireale and Termini Imerese. Those participating in these Sicilian festivals typically wear masks. While the masks worn in Italian carnivals are usually like those of Pulcinella or Brighella, traditional Sicilian masks are more characteristic of Jardinara or Varca, especially in the province of Palermo.