🇮🇹 ESC Volunteering in Italy 🌿 Ancient Carnival Traditions and Ivy Costume Making 🎭

Description

The Carnival of Satriano di Lucania, in Basilicata, is one of the oldest and most symbolic festivals in southern Italy, and its deeper meaning goes far beyond the folkloric dimension: it is a ritual that intertwines nature, community and regeneration. In this small village located in the Lucano Apennine National Park, on the last Sunday before Mardi Gras, people dress up as the Rumita (the hermit). This disguise, considered an arborealritual, represents a person completely covered in ivy leaves. At dawn, these walking bushes emerge from the forest and make their way to the village streets. They knock on every door with their fruscio, a wooden stick tipped with holly. Those who receive their visit must respect their silence and offer them food or money.

From 19 January until 10 February 2027 a group of 10 young people will have the chance to live a unique experience to support the ancient celebration. The ESC Team project is organized in collaboration with the local Associazione Al Parco.

Accommodation, food and transport arrangements

Hosting space is not confirmed yet - eventually in a private apartment with double and triplet rooms or in B&B space. If you apply you have to be ready to share spaces and live in community setting. For sure volunteers will have the chance and responsibility to cook for themselves. Satriano di Lucania is a rural town, not well connected with local transportation to bigger cities, so volunteers need to be ready live the three weeks in symbiosis with the nature and the local community.

Read the Infopack: https://canva.link/ckk3ryhyelp5aay

Apply here: https://forms.gle/AapCP956BeU5yH9fA

Training during the activity

Volunteers will be engaged in the creation of costumes from ivy, become part of the local community and the team of the carnival preparation, welcoming visitors and help at the various preparation phases. There will be the chance to visit natural places around Satriano. During the festival volunteers will support the recycling stations to guarantee the "green festival" status. They will study the myths and the legends around the carnival and not only. Satriano is full of painting and graffiti which talks about the history of this magical place. This ESC team will involve volunteers from various countries which will guarantee intercultural learning.

Participant profile

The project would love to host ACTIVE volunteers, ready to propose actions and be involved in all various steps of the festival organisation, with a strong love for nature and readiness for rural life.

We search for volunteers who do have - basic skills in photography, video, digital communication, or storytelling, useful for documenting and promoting the preparation phases and the unfolding of the Carnival; - creative craftsmanship skills for mask-making, setting up decorations, and supporting the artistic and logistical activities of the Carnival; - Interest in folk traditions and in practices aimed at safeguarding local cultural heritage; - willingness to engage in manual and practical tasks related to space preparation and the general organization of the event; - awareness of environmental issues and attention to sustainable behaviors; - English Language skills are fundamental, Italian language skills would be good;

Activity details

Activity type

Volunteering teams

Activity dates

From 19/01/2027 to 10/02/2027

Location

Satriano di lucania, Italy

Deadline

20/11/2026

Project code

2024-2-IT03-ESC51-VTJ-000290648

Topics

Looking for participants from

20 countries can apply. The activity takes place in 🇮🇹 Italy.