a part of the world will be disguised to deceive the other, and they will run the streets like crazy without reason: you never saw such a mess in nature "Rabelais

Carnevalone Poggiano is the oldest festival held in the Sabina and between the oldest in Italy. Originally the ancient celebrations were carried out both joyful and religious ways. Over time the religious character of the festival was lost and the values of equality and freedom became priorities, in fact the usual relationships between masters and slaves were interrupted during these celebrations. The slaves could sit at the main table and were even allowed to exchange their roles and clothes. This joyful character is what characterizes the"Carnevalone" each year, this term is in use since 1861 when for the first time - imitating the most famous Italian carnivals – a big puppet mache (called “Carnevalone”) was paraded through the streets of the town and was then burned in the square on the first Sunday of Lent. Throughout the centuries this carnival has always had a festive and picturesque character. Today as well as the singing, dancing, the masks and the wagons what characterizes the festival is also competitions and raffles and finally, as we have mentioned it before, the puppet is burned in the square with the traditional procession of moccoletti after making a will and being carried through a funeral procession parody. Poggio Mirteto is also world known for its Carnevalone Liberato, a festival celebrating the liberation from the Pontifical State. The celebrations of this carnival are similar: street performers, singers and poets unite to give this festival a joyous character.