Carnival is celebrated in Italy in February, including in Pontecorvo which has an ancient tradition. Months before, large papier-mâché puppets are made and put on floats that go through the streets on Carnival Day. The mask representing the country is Burlicchio, dressed in an orange, yellow and black checkered costume. Traditional Carnival sweets include castagnole and frappe, which are fried cakes dipped in sugar. People of all ages dress up as celebrities and parade through the streets dancing, singing, throwing confetti and streamers and joking around. A jury awards the most beautiful float at the end.

1. IN ITALY, CARNIVAL IS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY. THIS FESTIVAL HAS A VERY ANCIENT TRADITION IN PONTECORVO. SOME MONTHS BEFORE, HUGE PAPIER-MACHE’ PUPPETS ARE MADE; THEY ARE PUT ON PROCESSIONAL FLOATS THAT GO ROUND THE STREETS OF THE COUNTRY ON “CARNIVAL DAY”.

2. THE MASK REPRESENTING OUR COUNTRY IS “BURLICCHIO”. HIS DRESS IS CHECKERED COLORED (ORANGE, YELLOW AND BLACK).

3. THE TYPICAL CARNIVAL SWEETS ARE “CASTAGNOLE AND FRAPPE”. THESE CAKES ARE FIRST FRIED IN OIL AND THEN DIPPED IN SUGAR.

5. CHILDREN, TEENAGERS AND ADULTS DRESS UP AS CELEBRITIES AND GO THROUGH THE STREETS OF THE COUNTRY DANCING, SINGING, THROWING CARNIVAL CONFETTI, PAPER STEAMERS AND MAKING JOKES (SPRAYING SHAVING FOAM TO PASSERS-BY). AT THE END OF THE PARADE A JURY AWARDS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOAT .