| Molise is a small region of central Italy on the | | | | street festival featuring joyous groups of painted, |
| Adriatic Sea. Carnevale here tends to have | | | | masked musicans. But storm clouds are gathering |
| somber aspects, arguably more so than in much | | | | with a procession of the devil, the central figure |
| of the rest of Italy. We'll do things a little different | | | | of this Carnevale, accompanied by several figures |
| here than in most of the other articles in this | | | | dressed in white who keep him in chains until the |
| series. We will focus on the most significant, often | | | | evening's trail. Can you guess how the trial ends? |
| the darkest aspect of Carnevale in several villages | | | | Soldiers actually fire several live shots, just to |
| and small towns. | | | | make sure that this devil gets his due. |
| Castelnuovo del Volturno is a village of some 250 | | | | A less violent activity is the "cheese game" held in |
| inhabitants. Carnevale here centers around a man | | | | the small town of Vinchiaturo. Competing teams |
| in a deer costume, covered in rough skins whose | | | | throw large rounds of cheese down the street. |
| face is covered in black and sports horns. Deer | | | | Let's hope that nobody gets hurt. Let's also hope |
| Man struggles with a masked man known as | | | | that this delicious Italian cheese doesn't go to |
| "Pulcinella" and escapes looking for food. He is | | | | waste. Another gastronomical event is "La |
| caught by a hunter who beats him. In another | | | | Raviolata". This event features the famous Scapoli |
| version Deer Man wreaks havoc among the cattle | | | | ravioli, served to the hungry masses on the last |
| until stopped by the saintly Friar Martin. He is then | | | | Sunday of Carnevale in the village of that name. |
| resurrected, an act that purifies him and the | | | | For many Molise villages and towns Carnivale |
| entire community whose sins he symbolizes. The | | | | centers around a puppet dressed in black, with |
| villages of Carpinone, Forli del Sannio, and | | | | flax in his hand and a potato behind with seven |
| Roccasicura put celebrate Carnevale by putting on | | | | chicken feathers attached. He is often suspended |
| trail a carnival puppet known as "Fantoccio". He is | | | | from balconies or from wires hanging in the yards. |
| found guilty and burnt at the stake. In the village | | | | Even if it's after Carnevale don't miss the Good |
| of Sant'Agapito his smouldering corpse is thrown | | | | Friday processions in Campodipietra, Ferrazzano, |
| off a cliff. | | | | Riccia, and Termoli. |
| In the village of Tufara Carnevale starts with a | | | | |