Zusslrennen: The Carnival of Prato allo Stelvio
Carnival in South Tyrol is a journey into the region's oldest traditions. Among the most fascinating rituals is the Zusslrennen of Prato allo Stelvio, in Val Venosta, which takes place on Fat Thursday and fills the entire village with sounds, colors, and agricultural symbols.
An ancient ritual to welcome spring
The true protagonists of the parade are the young Zussl, dressed in white, adorned with paper flowers and colorful ribbons, and wearing large cowbells tied around their waists. To the rhythmic sound of the bells, the Zussl march through the village in a procession meant to chase away winter and welcome the arrival of spring.
The spectacle becomes even more evocative when six young men dressed as white horses enter the scene, pulling a wooden plow through the village alleys—a clear and powerful symbol of agricultural rebirth and the return of the earth’s fertility.
The characters and their meanings
You’ll also see other fun and symbolic characters in the parade:
- The cart driver, who cracks a long knotted rope to symbolize the awakening of nature;
- The sower, who scatters sawdust onto the crowd as a gesture of good fortune;
- The farmers and their servants, carrying traditional tools used for working the fields;
- And finally, the masked couple Zoch and Pfott, symbolic figures representing union and fertility.
A celebration between the sacred and the profane
Beyond its ritualistic aspects, the festival is a moment of joyful togetherness, with traditional dishes, local drinks, and the warmth of a community that continues to celebrate an age-old and ever-enchanting ritual.
The Zusslrennen is one of the most unique parades in all of South Tyrol—a perfect blend of folklore, spirituality, and the celebration of nature.