Carnival of Putignano

The Italian town of Putignano in the province of Bari is well-known for its annual carnival. Founded in 1394, the Carnival of Putignano is the oldest carnival in Italy. It is also the country’s longest-lasting carnival, beginning on St. Stephen’s Day and ending on Shrove Tuesday.

The history of the Putignano Carnival is directly connected to Saint Stephen, one of the most venerated Christian saints. His remains were originally buried at the Beit Jimal monastery in Palestine but were subsequently relocated several times. In 1394, the Knights of Malta temporarily transferred St. Stephen’s relics to Puntignano from their original preservation site in Monopoli in order to protect them from the Saracens.

The relics arrived in Puntignano on St. Stephen’s Day (December 26). Upon their arrival, all townspeople abandoned their work to follow the procession and participate in the religious ceremony in homage to the saint’s relics. Once the ceremony had concluded, they celebrated with song and dance.

To commemorate this event, the annual carnival season in Puntignano begins on December 26. On the first day of the carnival, people go to church with candles to ask for forgiveness of the sins they will commit during the Carnival. In the evening, propaggini (rhythmic satirical verses in the local dialect dedicated to the last year’s major events) are performed in the streets.

From December 26 onward, festivities are held every Thursday. Each Thursday is dedicated to mocking a certain social group (Monsignors, priests, widowers, unmarried youngsters, married women, and married men). But the Carnival really takes off in full stride on the third Sunday before Lent. There are four parades, three held on Sundays and one on Shrove Tuesday. Like most carnival parades in the world, they feature elaborate papier-mâché floats. Of course, the floats are a much more recent tradition than the carnival itself.

The central figure of the Putignano Carnival is Farinella who first appeared in 1953. He wears a green and white suit, a three-pointed hat, a mask, and bells on toes of his shoes.

The Carnival of Putignano culminates with the funeral of King Carnival. The revelers have a last meal of pasta and wine before a giant papier-mâché bell tolls 365, marking the end of the Carnival and the beginning of Lent.