Between the 17th of January and the 10th of February several events and cultural initiatives take place during the Dauno Carnival, which, with its dressed-up groups and its playful floats, draws thousands of visitors every year. Dressed-up people and floats challenge each other with masks and costumes inspired by recent news and political satire. The result of it is a spectacular and long parade along a path of two kilometres which takes place on the last Sunday. Besides, there are also other initiatives, such as literary, photography, painting contests, parties, folklore shows (the burial of Ze’ Peppe, the stock character who represents the Dauno Carnival), dances in the places and the “socie” (home places) and tasting of typical dishes, such as the farrata, a cake made of wheat and ricotta (soft white unsalted cheese). Moreover, with the UNICEF sponsorship, on the first Sunday,there is the peculiar Parade of Wonders, unique in its genre, with the participation of thousands of children of primary and secondary schools.
Event History:
The rites of the Carnival of Siponto (the ancient name of Manfredonia) are really ancient, probably dating back to the VII and VI centuries B.C. Scenes of cult represented on the Stelae Daune – those found in the Siponto plain, which date back to the VII and VI B.C. – are the first evidence of rituals which could have anticipated the Dionysian or orgiastic ones. The rites inspiring the Carnival took place in all the following period until the first half of the XX century, when the “Dauno Carnival” was finally
