Battle of the Oranges against tyranny – Video of the day

vrea, a town in northwestern Italy is most famous for its traditional carnival celebration. The core of the Carnevale di Ivrea is the famous Battle of the Oranges where thousands of citizens are divided into nine teams who them violently pelt each other with oranges. These orange battles occur on the traditional carnival days of Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Held every year in late February, the celebration revolves around a 12th century legend of a miller’s daughter who refused the local duke’s “right” to spend a night with each newlywed woman in his domain and instead chipped off his head. This refusal lead the commoners in the town revolting against their rulers, they then stormed and burned the palace. Each year a young girl is elected “Mugnaia” and plays the role of Violetta, the miller’s daughter who still today, honored as a local symbol of freedom.

Royal battles are fought in the town's historical squares between throwers on foot representing the people in revolt and others on waggons drawn by horses in gay trappings, who take the part of the tyrant's officers. Another feature introduced by the French Revolution is the sort of red woollen nightcap falling over the right shoulder.

Battle of the Oranges 2012 from Andry Verga – Masterblack on Vimeo.