SEC-S16-W1 | Tradiciones culturales

Hello everyone, it is with great pleasure that I participate in this contest. I believe it's very interesting to get to know and share our traditions from our respective countries.

Every year, before Lent (the period of fasting and penance preceding Christian Easter), it is a tradition in Verona to organize a Carnival parade through the streets of the city center, called Bacanàl del Gnoco. Groups of people from different neighborhoods of the city and surrounding areas participate in this event. All participants wear traditional costumes and masks, and many of these groups present allegorical floats made of papier-mâché and other materials. Each float represents a current theme.

This celebration dates back to ancient Roman times, as "bacanàl" is a term derived from the god Bacchus, recalling the festivals organized to welcome the arrival of spring, featuring dancing and wine drinking! Potato dumplings are a traditional Veronese dish, and it is said that in 1531, the people of Verona, hungry due to a famine, organized a revolt. To calm the aggressiveness of the rioters, the rulers decided to go to Piazza San Zeno, in front of the basilica of the same name, and distribute food, including gnocchi, free of charge. It was a grand celebration. With the domination of the Republic of Venice, the tradition of masquerading to celebrate Carnival also came to Verona, and these two celebrations merged into one grand festival: "venardì gnocolar."

Since that year, every Fat Friday of Carnival, the people celebrate with a mask parade in which the poor dress up in the clothes of the city's wealthy nobles to mock them, while the rich families offer food to the poor, who can eat to their heart's content at least once a year. Each area of the city has its own costumes representing a noble family with all its court of servants.

Today, in Piazza San Zeno, some volunteers prepare gnocchi dishes for all citizens, who can enjoy them at a low cost while splendid masks and colorful allegorical floats parade through the city streets.

For several years, my parents participated in the parade wearing one of the traditional masks, while I have never been involved in the complex organization of this event, whose preparations engage people throughout the year. I don't identify much with this festival because it represents a moment of euphoria and disorder for the masses, participating to vent their frustrations and avoid thinking about problems. I, on the other hand, am someone who likes to find solutions to difficulties, and it doesn't make sense to indulge in unrestrained pleasures, overeat, and get drunk to forget. Additionally, I don't practice the Christian religion, so I don't observe any fasting before Lent.

However, even though I don't share its underlying values, I believe that this tradition should be continued because it helps to preserve the history of Verona. Furthermore, it is an event that attracts many tourists who appreciate learning about the local customs of the places they visit.

Thank you for reading, see you next time!