The Carnevalone Poggiano is the oldest non religious festivity celebrated in Sabina and one of the oldest in Italy. Its joyous character is the dominating element of the celebration. The citizens of Poggio Mirteto organise their “Carnevalone” – great carnival, every year just before the beginning of Lent. This name is in use since 1861 when the tradition of parading a large paper mache dummy, known as Carnevalone, was introduced, copied from better known similar events held in the country. Despite the new name the carnival traditions dates to long before. The relatively recent introduction of the huge statue gave it’s the name to the event. The dummy is ritualistically burned on the town’s main square at the end of the celebrations.

Poggio Mirteto is also known for its Carnevalone Liberato, born to celebrate the end of the Pope’s temporal power. It too is a joyous celebration of life in which street artists, singers and poets meet to give over to the pure celebration of fun.        

"a part of humanity will disguise itself to mislead others,

it will run through the streats like mad men:

such disorder has never being seen in nature" Rabelais