CENTURIES-OLD TRADITIONS
There are many orally transmitted tales and legends that still live on in the valleys' most deeply rooted folk traditions and festivals. Some customs of the past have lost importance over time, while others are an integral part of the cultural fabric of the Tarvisio area.
San Nicolò & krampus
On the evening of December 5, at dusk, they show up accompanying St. Nicholas; they pass through the central street of the town armed with lit torches and bundles of rods, pulling a cart on which the saint towers. In Tarvisio in particular, having arrived in the square, the Krampus stop being the servants of St. Nicolo' and go wild, chasing the children and sometimes the adults to whip them, make them kneel down and recite prayers (the rite takes place - with some differences - in the other towns as well, but essentially it remains the same).
Finally, in some countries, a bonfire is lit and Krampus dance around it. This rite, certainly pagan-inspired, did not in ancient times include the figure of St. Nicholas, introduced in the Middle Ages as a positive moderator of the negative forces embodied precisely by the Krampus (at that time instead of St. Nicholas there was in this capacity the white Krampus).
The ritual is an allegory of the eternal struggle between good and evil.
The Krampus (representation of the devil), companions of the Saint of Mira (St. Nicholas), appear as mysterious sylvan spirits, covered in skins or furs.
They wear monstrous masks, topped with tall horns, red, white or natural colored.
From their toothed mouth hangs a long red tongue, which, with the staff and bundles of wands held by the Krampus, is believed to be a phallic symbol.
They are equipped with cowbells and chains with which they herald their arrival; they also make guttural sounds and move with aggressive attitudes.
SCIP SCIAP
The Sciapa/šapa features the young conscripts, who visit houses in the village on the evening of December 27 carrying the "big frost" (šapa).
The šapa consists of a large fir tree branch at the center of which is fixed a red cloth heart decorated with various symbolic objects: the medals that wish rich lumber servants, the thalers and ingots that presage wealth, the chain of love, the key of St. Peter that makes one go to heaven, a second chain that symbolizes the one used to pull the Christmas tree and the horseshoe that brings good luck. The green part of the branch is decorated with white bows wishing births, little bells symbolizing festivity, little birds symbolizing lightheartedness, and Christmas balls wishing as many children as they are; the whole is surrounded by a silver heart-shaped festoon. Tradition calls for conscripts to go from house to house to offer good wishes, while carolers outside sing auspicious songs. Only three members of the group enter the house: the bearer of the frost who explains the meaning of the objects on the frasca, the footman who offers drinks to the family members, and the bearer of the lantern who stops at the entrance. A tip is offered to the group; the money collected will partly be used to make dinner between conscripts and singers, and partly will be donated to the church and the volunteer fire department. The ritual is repeated on New Year's Eve, but on this occasion only the taverns are visited and the waiter and lantern bearer are not expected.
In December 28, the day of the Holy Innocents, it is instead the children who scip-sciap with a "Little Brina" without decorations to parents and adults, wishing them a long life and reciting a nursery rhyme in Slovenian, in which each needle on the branch corresponds to a year of happiness.
In Valbruna, where still today some children on the morning of December 28 practice "Scip sciap" by going around the houses of villagers, Mrs. Irma Keil brought back the nursery rhyme that was recited during her childhood. As you can see, it is partly in Slovene and partly in German: "Šip œap/pr'rit tap/gesund bleiben/lang leben/und Geld geben" Approximately: "Scip sciap/tap to the butt/remain healthy/live long/and give money"
Even in the Italian version, the name "Scip sciap" onomatopoeically recalls the sound of a branch moved by the hand, since the tradition takes place precisely with a branch. This generally consists of a white fir branch, flat and rounded in shape. Until a few years ago the tradition was practiced throughout the valley; at present it is still quite alive in Ugovizza and takes place mainly on the 28th, the day of the Holy Innocents, and in the evening before.
Location: Camporosso-Ugovizza-Valbruna-Malborghetto
pechtra baba
The tradition takes place in Camporosso and Malborghetto on the evening of January 5, before the arrival of the three wise men. It is considered by local people to be one of the coldest and most mysterious evenings of the year, but also one of the most fascinating.
Around dusk, eight or ten male boys, preteen age, ten to sixteen years old, gather along the road through the village. All are equipped with cowbells. Gathered together, they start running down the street, banging the bells violently. They do not shout or utter words they run and ring. Reaching the far end of the village, where a cross once stood, they return composedly, in silence. Some stop and knock on doors to receive some gifts, but people are very reluctant to open. At one time young people received dried pears, apples, fava beans and peanuts. The chase has a symbolic meaning serves to repel and drive out of the village the Perchta Baba, an evil female spirit (analogous to the Befana). The next day, January 6, the bells used during the chase were taken to the attic or barn and hung around the cows' necks for superstitious purposes.
Point of arrival
The Tarvisio tourist destination is located in Friuli Venezia Giulia, on the border with Austria and Slovenia
