Carnival celebrations begin on January 17, the day dedicated to Sant’Antonio Abate. The Carnival in Molise is a matter of tradition: devil and zoomorphic masks still amaze and fascinate today.

On January 17, the day dedicated to Sant’Antonio Abate, the Carnival officially begins.
In Molise the traditions related to the Carnival are very suggestive: in some villages ancestral traditions are renewed. Ancient carnival masks, halfway between man and animal and demonic characters, which still arouse amazement and charm.

In Tufara, a small village in the province of Campobasso, there is the devil’s parade: a frightening mask, with a dangling red tongue, equipped with a trident and dressed in seven goat skins sewn together.
In Jelsi, also in the province of Campobasso, the ritual of the bear-man dance is renewed; while in Castelnuovo a Volturno, in the province of Isernia, there is the ritual of the man-deer.

Very particular traditions that deserve to be seen.

More info on:
www.ildiavolotufara.it
www.uomocervo.org

Brunella Muttillo

Opening photo: the devil of Tufara (Campobasso, Molise).