Saturday, February 14, and Sunday, February 15, 2026: Carnival in Satriano di Lucania!
In this small village located in the Lucano Apennine National Park, on the last Sunday before Mardi Gras, people dress up as the Rumita (the hermit). This disguise, considered an arboreal ritual, represents a person completely covered in ivy leaves. At dawn, these walking bushes emerge from the forest and make their way to the village streets. They knock on every door with their fruscio, a wooden stick tipped with holly. Those who receive their visit must respect their silence and offer them food or money. If you are interested in experiencing this traditional ritual, visit Satriano on the morning of February 15, 2026.
Over the decades, the Rumita has taken on many different meanings. Before World War II, it was thought to represent a Franciscan spirit, a hermit living on the edges of the village who would emerge from the forest after the harsh winter. Later, during times of migration, the Rumita was seen as a symbol of those from Satriano who remained in Basilicata in poverty, wandering the streets in search of food, disguised in ivy to remain anonymous. Today, the new generation uses the Rumita to deliver a universal message: to shift our values and restore a more authentic and ancient connection with the Earth, fostering respect for humanity and our planet. The Earth has existed for billions of years and will continue to exist beyond mankind.
According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, 95% of global warming is caused by human actions.
Inspired by the documentary “Alberi” by director Michelangelo Frammartino, presented at the New York MoMA during the Tribeca Film Festival, where for the first time one hundred Rumita gathered in a square to symbolically give back to nature what humanity has taken from it, we will recreate a WALKING FOREST on February 15, 2026. If you want to share this moment and help spread this vital message, join us and become a Rumita for a day.
Discover how to become a Rumita for one day. For information and bookings, email carnevaledisatriano@gmail.com.