Big carnival fire
In Soraga, the ancient ritual of "burning carnival" is staged, marking the end of the craziest time of the year
Joy, jokes, dancing and plenty of delicious treats: in Val di Fassa, the last day of Carnival brings the village squares to life and has always been one of the most eagerly awaited moments of the year. It is a time of pranks and laughter, when the anonymity of the faceres - finely carved wooden masks crafted by the valley's master artisans - leaves room for witty remarks, improvisation and small "surprises" that are deeply rooted in tradition.
In recent years, after Alba di Canazei "deslea carnascèr" (brings Carnival to an end), it is Soraga that closes the celebrations on Shrove Tuesday evening, together with the very active "Grop de Folclor". Here, the ancient ritual of "brujar carnascial" comes to life once again: the "strìa", a straw witch, is burned in a symbolic act to bid farewell to winter, ward off evil and welcome the arrival of spring.
The event takes place in the park in front of the church (Prà del Preve): at 8:30 p.m., the "Mascherada" begins - a short comedy in the Ladin language introduced by the leading masks of the Ladin Carnival: "Bufon", "Laché" and "Marascons". At 9:00 p.m., the large bonfire is lit - a powerful and shared moment that leads the community into Lent, in anticipation of Easter.
The event will be cancelled in case of bad weather.
