Dear readers, travelers, curious souls, athletes, and loungers, today we’re talking about Carnival—but not just any Carnival, oh no! We’re talking about the Omegna Carnival, where the river flows up instead of down, the city’s keys change hands like trading cards, and people dress up strangely just to feel normal.
That outfit that reveals you
There’s this curious thing we do every day: we get dressed. A simple, routine, almost mechanical act. We wear pretty clothes, ugly clothes, clothes that make us look taller, thinner, broader, shorter… and then Carnival arrives, and suddenly, it’s wigs, capes, and fake noses for everyone. But here’s the real question: if we dress up to become someone else, who are we when we don’t wear a costume? Ever thought about it? One day you’re Joe, the next day you’re Batman. And maybe, as Batman, you feel more like Joe than when you were actually Joe!
The Nigoglia: the rebel river
Now, let’s get serious. The Omegna Carnival isn’t just confetti and party horns. It’s also about the Nigoglia, the river that does the opposite of every other river. While all rivers flow down, this one—no, she—flows up. Unheard of! If Nigoglia were a person, she’d be the type to carry an umbrella in the sun and wear sunglasses in the rain. A true rebel! A punk river!
And then there’s the famous quote,
“la Niguja la va in su e la legg la fouma nu“
from Gianni Rodari’s C’era due volte il barone Lamberto:
Which translates to: “The Nigoglia flows up; and the law, we make it ourselves!”. Basically, the Omegna Carnival is the perfect place for anyone who wants to be an anarchist… with confetti.
The key handover: when the mad rule the city
Now we arrive at the most serious moment of the Carnival. The mayor, who usually holds the city’s keys tightly, suddenly says: “Enough, I quit!” and hands them over to the Reali Nigoglia. And who are they? The sovereigns of the Carnival, the true rulers! A King and Queen, but not the fairy tale kind—oh no! These two reign over laughter, polenta, and joy.
And here’s where the fun begins: with the key handover, the city gets new rulers. For an entire week, the “mad” take charge! Rules are flipped, streets fill with masks, and anything goes (well, almost). It’s as if the mayor said:
“Guys, I’m going on vacation. Figure it out!”
And they do. Oh, they do.
It’s a symbolic act, sure, but one that matters. Because for a few days, Omegna becomes the kingdom of fun!
Dressed in emotions: the exhibition that reveals you
And hold on—it doesn’t end here! Until March 2nd, in Verbania, there’s the “Emozioniamoci” exhibition, organized in collaboration with the Dalla Chiesa Spinelli Institute, celebrating 20 years of AffDown VEO ODV ETS. And the best part? The subtitle: “The emotions you ‘wear'”.
They played with the etymology of abiti (which means both “clothes” and “habits” in Italian), but don’t worry—I won’t bore you with linguistics… over there, they know how to have fun with words! 😉
And this is no ordinary exhibition. Here, clothes don’t conceal—you don’t hide behind them, they reveal who you truly are! Instead of a cowboy costume, you might end up wearing an outfit called “happily confused” or “Monday morning without coffee.”
It’s a brilliant idea that, if you think about it, is the opposite of Carnival… but also its perfect complement. There’s art, emotions, and free admission! If you miss it, well… you’ve already put on the “I missed something amazing” outfit.
Come experience it (and even sleep over!)
If you want to be part of all this and not miss a second of the festivities, there’s a magical place where you can stay: Seme di Faggio, a B&B where Carnival never really ends—even when you go to bed.
🎭✨ What are you waiting for? Book now and come dress up as “I’m having the time of my life on Lake Orta!”
