The Carnival of Ivrea

The word “carnival” brings about a sense of excitement, thrill and adventure; carnivals are the very definition of showcasing various cultures and traditions and are present across the globe, from the Mazatlán carnival of Mexico to the Carnival of Ivrea celebrated in Italy. 

Despite the word “carnival” mainly being centred on the western globe, a twin form of carnivals also exists, like Mahotsav of India. Ivrea Carnival is a pre-Lenten carnival from Sunday until the Tuesday before Lent.

The carnivals may centre on various aspects of one country’s cultures and heritage, with Rio de Janeiro focusing on representing the vibrancy of their country. In contrast, Mahotsav of India focuses on the religious aspect of the country. The carnival of Ivrea belongs to the country of Italy, often nicknamed the battle of the oranges.

History of the Carnival of Ivrea

This Italian tradition of the orange flight dates back to the mid-1800s but has roots in the Middle Ages. According to local folklore, the carnival showcased the town and its independence from starvation and freedom during the Middle Ages.

Initially, beans were thrown during the carnival to mock the poor by authoritarian rulers, who provided the poor sections of the kingdom with little bowls of bean soup only two times a year made from the throne beans. Soon, with age, the carnival shifted to a positive note and was adorned with flowers, confetti, almonds and sometimes oranges. The oranges were initially thrown by girls who wanted to be noticed by potential suitors from their balconies.

As time proceeded, the gesture of the fruit changed from a gesture to a weapon in the mid-1800s. With the revolution against the leader, the famous battle of the oranges took place as a revolt, an annual event till the early 20th century due to the impending world war.

The Carnival of Ivrea in today’s world

Similar to the La Tomatina festival of Spain, the carnival involves a friendly battle of sorts where oranges are thrown around. The carnival begins only after the January elections of the general, who is responsible as master of ceremonies. The newly elected general then travels on the same day to pay respect to the bishop, and then there are evening celebration balls.

There is a grand reveal of Violetta Miller’s daughter; she represents the nation’s freedom. The Violetta parades across the city in grandeur with a pot of bean soup bubbling in the background. This soup is made in large amounts and distributed across various shelters. This day is when the battle takes place. The battle is set with certain rules and has strategic breaks to recharge and return to the battle. Many choose to wear costumes and dress up in gear for the battle.

The carnivals end with a delicious meal called Polenta e merluzzo. The battle represents the battle between the tyrant ruler and the locals, the battle between the duke’s supporters against the supporters of Violetta.

The Battle of Oranges begins on Sunday afternoon, and Ivrea is covered in orange. When the whistle blows again, the orange throwing pauses for a moment to allow battle-weary participants to catch their breath and prepare for the next onslaught. Non-battle-weary participants can launch even more oranges on Monday and Tuesday in a four-day Carnevale finale involving nine combat teams.

Orange festivals across the world

The orange festival of India – Dambuk 

Unlike the Carnival of Ivrea, the orange festival of India does not involve any fights; in fact, the orange festival of India is a music carnival that also marks the city of Dambuk, one of India’s finest producers of oranges. Situated in the Dibang valley of Himachal Pradesh, Damuk is well known for its fresh, luscious oranges, hence the name orange festival. About seven years ago, the orange festival of India began its journey in the year 2015.

The carnival is hosted for four days in Dambuk city, which involves off-roading and is surrounded by plantations and jungles. Dambuk is unreachable to most during the monsoon seasons, not allowing the roads to be usable. Once the monsoon clears, the festival is a magnet that attracts thrill-seekers and music junkies with many top gear events, tribal dances and indie/rock concerts.

The orange Warsaw Festival – Poland

Much like the orange festival of India, the orange Warsaw festival of Poland is an annual music festival that attracts over 60,000 people each year. The festival often showcases iconic singers like kings of Leon, Beyonce, Calvin Harris and many more. The event is broadly cast on various national events and has many global attendees. The event showcases various performances and live music. The event began in 2008 and has been held annually every year.

Conclusion

The orange festivals represent various carnivals across the globe that show that the world can be easily united with music yet unique, representing their history with the Carnival of Ivrea. Carnivals, or mahotsavam, the platform, allow the nation to unite, celebrate and appreciate the culture of one’s nation. Carnivals allow artists to transform their vision into reality. Carnivals are one of the unique and thrilling events; one must experience a carnival in their lifetime.