Be it jousting competitions, food celebrations or even an event to honour snakes; the country is chock-a-block with traditions, festivals and fairs.
Certainly at Sienna there are the Palio horse races while there is the yearly orange battle in the northern Italian town of Ivrea – situated to the north of Turin.
Orange Battle
This luscious annual event has been celebrated since ages. It is believed that ever since a certain lady of the manner threw beans at Ivrea’s poor, who feeling somewhat dismayed at the gesture, hurled the things in the street. The beans started to be used during annual carnivals and were jokingly hurled at those imagined to be adversaries ever since.
At some point in the 19th century, the girls of Ivrea began throwing flowers, lupines and confetti from terraces at the carnival processions whereas some hurled oranges.
How the event head started
Initially to attract attention of the prospective suitors; the girls of Ivrea flung all manner of things (albeit quite light objects) at the boys. A hard hurled orange by the young ladies surely would have grabbed the desired attention of the chosen men as flowers might not have exactly done. Even though the amorous aim behind an orange that one is hit full-on is not appreciated right away.
Gradually the young men on the carnival floats equipped themselves with oranges too to return fire as believed. This altered the carnival into running orangey battle of the sexes between the boys the ground and the girls on the balconies. Yet the event is all light- hearted and fun filled
The orange battles became well thought-out, with the guardians of the carnival floats instead of the men of the oppressor, as well as the additional orange flingers participating as the rebellious locals’ post the Second World War.
The last battle took place on the 22nd February 2009. Anyone can be a part of this fun, and Ivrea’s annual battle has illustrated itself into a noteworthy event equally in and outside of Italy.
Orange Festival 2010 between 13 to 16 February
This time the fruity festival head-starts on the 13 February, whereas the actual Orange battles will instigate on the 14th, 15th and the 16th February 2010.
It’s Quite a Squeeze Squad in action at Ivrea!
Orange Throwing Troop
It’s Quite a Squeeze Squad in action at Ivrea!
Originated in 1964 was an added platoon- the Arduini Scorpions, name after a well known street in Ivrea, Via Arduini. Squadrons of this group of orange men and women wear light gray tights and take on the Scacchi in Piazza Ottinetti. They also sport the design of a scorpion on the rear of their battle helmets.
The other regimes are- the Ace of Clubs and the Deathly Orange Throwers battle in Piazza di Città. The Tuchini stand for an area of Ivrea of the same name, but where these pipsqueaks fight out their battle is mystery yet. Subsequent haulers are the Devils and the Mercenaries, who battle in Piazza del Rondolino, along with the group known as the Panthers.
Post event picture of Tuchini Team Orange
I should not forget mentioning the Credendari, whose name comes from their symbol which includes an image of Palazzo della Credenza, along with a battle hammer, and a scepter as was presumably carried by the town’s mayor, seeing as ‘podesta’ means ‘mayor’ in English, as well as the more common Italian word ’sindaco’. The Credendari juice the piazza Freguglia area, although who their adversaries actually are is not too clear. Even though it’s a great waste of vitamin C it still sounds like lot of freshly squeezed fun!
Every abovementioned battle teams possess its web site and there appears to be quite a social scene at the back of these crazy orange throwers with the members sticking together not only during the orange wars. Definitely, these juiced up teams organise an entire host of parties other events. Although not on the whole clean, yet good fun!
Keep in mind that the mad tournament is jus around between the 13 to 16 February 2010.
I would suggest, companies having a few crates of beyond their sell by date oranges might like to get some fun free publicity by sending a few hundred to Ivrea.
Devils and Squeeze photos from the I Diavoli Aranciari site. The Devils Doing Battle in Ivrea photo by Franco Marino. The Ivrea Carnival site had plenty of information in English: Carnevalediivrea.it
Nonetheless the English version appears to have vanished, alas. Google Translate might help.
Image Source: blogfromitaly.com