Easter festival in Penìa
In the small village of Penìa, on Easter Sunday, people battle each other with coloured eggs
An Easter tradition that still lives in Val di Fassa is the battle with coloured eggs, which in Ladin is known under the verb "pechenèr". The rules of the game, in pairs (once made up of men only), are that each challenger must try and break the opponent’s eggshell, thus conquering his egg. The competitions are carried out "de spiz e de cuf" (with the egg’s top or bottom). Once were the women, especially girls of marriageable age, who painted the Easter eggs on Holy Saturday. When in that period a potential fiancé went to visit them at home on Easter Sunday, they offered him five, following the Ladin saying that goes: "Un no l’è da dèr, doi no i è da tor, trei vegn dal cher, cater l’è da mat e cinch l’è d’amor" (One mustn’t be given, two are not to be taken, three come from the heart, four are like crazy, five are of love).
The masks group of Alba and Penìa, repository of the atavistic rites of the Fassa Carnival, organises the "Pechenèda", starting at 3 p.m. in the "Bar de Penìa". Who will win the last egg? As always, there will be prizes for the participants. The bar in Penìa, run by Sergio and Lisa, is one of the landmarks in the area, famous above all for its cakes. Take the opportunity also to stroll through the narrow streets, in the square enclosed by old houses with a fountain of clear water in the middle, and then visit the church dedicated to Saints Sebastian and Rocco.
