Rabadan
Rabadan is the dialect name for the Carnival in Bellinzona . The Rabadan is the largest carnival event in Ticino and one of the largest in Switzerland . Numerous attractions attract up to 150,000 visitors every year. The foolish hustle and bustle officially begins on Thursday evening when the mayor hands over the keys to the city to His Majesty King Rabadan. During the settimana grassa (“fat week”), the festival extends from Thursday to Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday . The event continues on Saturday evening with the Guggenmusik concert. The big carnival parade then follows on Sunday afternoon, attracting 20,000 to 30,000 spectators to the canton's capital.
history
The Milanese dialect word rabadán means noise or noise. The carnival dates back to 1862. There has been a risotto meal at Carnival since 1865, and a parade since 1875, organized by the Società del Rabadan , founded a year earlier . In 1958, the first Guggenmusik in Ticino was written in Bellinzona, the «Ciod stonaa».
procedure
On Thursday the Carnival King will give a speech after taking over the key at 8:15 p.m. King Rabadan wears a crown and a scepter in the shape of a nail. That is why Bellinzona calls itself Chiodopoli («city of nails») during Carnival .
Friday is reserved for children's parades and lunch for seniors. On Saturday there will be concerts by Ticino Guggenmusiken. Guest groups from German-speaking Switzerland are invited. The royal couple with their family leads the procession on Sunday afternoon with many carriages from companies from all over the canton. The Corteo mascherato attracts up to 30,000 spectators.
On Tuesday, a free meal with risotto alla milanese and luganighe (pork sausages) rounds off the carnival.
literature
- Margrit Thüler (Red.): Festivals in the Alpine region. Migros-Presse, Zurich 1997, ISBN 3-9521210-0-2 , pp. 89-99.
- Albert Bärtsch: Swiss Festivals and Customs, Volume 1 . Stutz Druck, Wädenswil 2009, ISBN 978-3-85928-077-9 .
Web links
- Official website (Italian)
- Entry on Rabadan and Carnival in Ticino on the “Living Traditions” website of the Federal Office of Culture