Culture, customs and traditions of the Val di Fassa

Ancient Ladin land with unique and sensational flavors. This is how you can describe the Val di Fassa in a few words, which in itself contains centuries of legends, stories, history, art, culture, language, folklore, cuisine, scents, customs and traditions: a holiday in the Val di Fassa is synonymous with excellence and authentic scents.

Cuisine and culinary traditions

A stay at the Sonne Sole hotel in Vigo di Fassa means being pampered by the typical flavors of Ladin cuisine, enhanced by the excellent Trentino wines, and the local flavors are the protagonists of the gastronomic week "At the table with the Fairy of the Dolomites" which takes place every year in nearby Moena, the production site of the famous "Puzzone" cheese.

The Krampus and Saint Nicholas

Every year, a symbol of culture and tradition for the people of Fassa, is December 6, the day of Saint Nicholas, where in all the villages the ancient tradition of celebrating Saint Nicholas is renewed, who together with his two angels, wanders through the streets of the Fassa Valley, chasing away the "krampus", diabolical and terrifying creatures, and enters the houses to distribute toys and gifts for the little ones, after having listened to their prayers.

The Ladin Carnival

The Ladin Carnival in the Fassa Valley is an ancient tradition that has remained uncontaminated to the present day and among its origins in a past where life depended on the passing of the seasons, where the end of winter marked the arrival of the beautiful spring season and was celebrated with ritual feasts. Of all the traditions of the valley, the Ladin Carnival is undoubtedly the most awaited and evocative event, which involves adults and children in a mysterious game of masks, the famous "facères", carved in wood by the sculptors of the Fassa Valley.

During the week of Carnival, the whole valley is involved in this event: Fassa residents and tourists often participate in funny games and pranks even on the ski slopes.

The Ladin Carnival has its origins, according to tradition, in Canazei and Alba, where the protagonists are the "mascherèdes": "Bufon", the "Laché" and the "Marascons". These masks and typical characters are also found in the famous parade that is organized every year in Campitello di Fassa, on the last Sunday of Carnival.

Other typical figures of the Ladin Carnival are "l’om dal bosch" and the "coscrit te ceston" that we also find in other villages in the valley such as Pozza di Fassa, Vigo di Fassa and Soraga.

Typical figures of the village of Moena are the "Arlechins" and "I Lonc".