Festival of S.Nicolò

The Festival of S. Nicolò is, in my opinion, the most charming tradicion of Fassa Valley; it is celebrated the 6^th December, the day of the fair in Pozza. It's a festival awaited by the children of the valley, even if in the last years the enthusiasm is vanishing. Spite Fassa Valley lies in the province of Trento, where they usually celebrate S. Lucia, here the most important celebration is s. Nicolò, more popular in Bolzano.

The evening of the 6^th December, S. Nicolò dressed by beauticul lighting dresses, the mitre on his head and the long beard, walks in the streets of the villages, also carried by a slate, together with two angels and the "krampus", awful and strong-smelling evil creatures, draggin heavy metal chains behind them. The group stopos in the houses were little children live and S. Nicolo, going into the house, asks to the child if he has been a good child during the year and if he has always prayed; the children, that usually are feared at the sight of the devils (they do all they can to terrify the children), and so they try to convince him of their good behaviour. after that, S. Nicolò order them to say a prayer, rigorously on their knees and with their hands joined, and at the end, he give them little presents. The group then leaves the house in search of other children. Often in the village you can find some krampus that don't follow the sladge of S. Nicolò and that make jokes, sometimes also in bad taste, to the people they meet.