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The Vlurd (Bundles of reeds and straw)
MOST LIKELY, the Vlurd is all that remains of the ancient, sacred rite (the Bacchanal) brought to Rome by the Etruscans. The Bacchanal was abolished by a Senate decree in 577 A.D., because of the excesses of the Bacchantes, whose orgies had become unrestrained.
LIKE the Bacchanalia, the festival of the Vlurd takes piace at night by the light of flaming torches.
PARTICIPANTS include women and young people as it was during the parties of Bacchus. Other analogies are found in the noises, shouts and the unbridled dances around the fire, as G. Allevi describes in "Going for a stroll in Offida".
THESE DAYS, the party takes place on Tuesday, the last day of Carnival. It begins in the dark (between 6.30 and 7pm) at the XX September Square, with the parade of the Vlurd.
PEOPLE CARRY the burning bundles of reeds, cross Offida's historical centre to reach the principle square.
A HUGE BONFIRE is lit with the burning reeds. The people, some of them in masks and costumes, dance around the fire until it dies - symbolising the end of the Carnival.
Vlurd
