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Putignano Carnival
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From: 2013.02.05 To: 2013.02.21
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Description
The Putignano Carnival, with its famous parade of papier-mache floats, is both the longest and one of the oldest carnivals in the world with records dating the event back to 26th of December, 1394. The festival still officially kicks off on the 26th of December with the transfer of Holy Relics from Monopoli to Putignano, but the real spectacle is the massive floats and parades taking place over three weekends in February. The carnival has a medieval pedigree, but you'd never guess it by the 21st century political and social themes of the floats. In addition to the floats, nobody in the town is safe from a good practical joke during carnival, and that includes priests. The mask symbol of Putignano’s Carnival is the "diplomat" Farinella whose favourite pastime is bringing peace between cats and dogs. Maybe the carnival will inspire you to make peace with someone, if not, you're still in for a great experience. While the top parades are held on Sundays, it is well worth staying past the weekend for the block busting Fat Tuesday carnival. You'll know the festivities are over when you see a fake priests dip a small broom in the water of a miniature toilet (the 'priso' in the local dialect) and splash passers-by with this 'holy water'. Meanwhile, the bell tower will toll 365 times as a reminder to the faithful that the celebrations are over and Lent is approaching. After all the partying a little meditation and abstinence doesn't sound like a bad idea.
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