One of the most anticipated events for the people of Apulia, particularly the inhabitants of Putignano, is certainly the Putignano Carnival. It is an event that brings together religion, history, art, passion and craft expertise, creating a celebration that entertains both young and old.
The Putignano Carnival is the oldest and longest in Italy. Its origins reportedly date back to as far as 1394, when the Apulian coast was prey to Saracen raids, so the inhabitants and rulers had to ensure the protection of the most precious things they had in the area from looters. Among these treasures were the relics of Saint Stephen, which until then had been kept in the Abbey of Monopoli.
Owing to its location, Putignano was chosen as the recipient of the relics; specifically, they were transferred to the Church of Santa Maria La Greca, where they are still kept today.
Legend has it that during this procession to take the relics to the church, the farmers who were busy grafting vines using the layer propagation technique at the time abandoned the fields to join the procession with singing, dancing and reciting satirical verses in the local dialect. And it is precisely on 26 December that carnival begins.
Even today, in fact, the ceremony of the 'propaggini' is celebrated, where during a procession the exchange of the candle takes place, a symbol used to ask for forgiveness for the sins that will be committed during the carnival period.
This period is also characterised by the Thursdays, which begin precisely after 17 January, the feast of St Anthony. Indeed, while in the past Thursday was seen as a day for banquets, dancing and celebration, today we witness satirical performances that tell the story of a particular social class.
Over the years the traditions have changed slightly, in fact the famous “allegorical floats” have been added to the processions. The first float made its triumphal debut in the early 1900s; it was a small cart simply made of straw puppets and rags;
but in the early 1950s, with the creation of new working techniques, the first papier-mâché floats appeared. And it is precisely this that makes the Putignano carnival one of the most beautiful in Italy.
Every year, parades are held (on 3 Sundays plus Shrove Tuesday) featuring a series of increasingly magnificent and cutting-edge floats that leave spectators spellbound, and at the end, the most beautiful float is awarded a prize.
The conclusion of the carnival arrives with the Shrove Tuesday parade, which involves hundreds of young people and families with children. The festive atmosphere that is created is unique. Loudspeakers are set up throughout the village playing music, and people dance and celebrate until late in the evening.
Finally, an hour before midnight, the 365 tolls (one for each day of the year) of the Mother Church bell remind us that the festive period is over and that of penance, namely Lent, is about to begin.
