Battle of the Oranges

By Sara Cattaneo

Carnival is a big deal in the Netherlands, especially in Tilburg, where the streets come alive with people dressed in orange and green, drinking as early as 11 AM. But if partying isn’t your thing, there are other ways to celebrate, like in Ivrea, Italy, where Carnival takes on a much more intense form: an all-out orange battle.

The Battle of the Oranges is a centuries-old tradition symbolizing the people’s defiance against tyranny. Nine teams of aranceri (orange throwers) take to the streets, hitting each other with oranges in a dramatic reenactment of a historic revolt. Participants on foot represent the revolutionaries, while those in carts symbolize the army of a tyrannical duke, often identified as Guido III. According to legend, the duke attempted to impose an unjust custom on a newlywed woman, Violetta. Instead, she fought back, cutting off his head and igniting an uprising that led to the destruction of his castle.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of kilograms of oranges are imported for the battle. The festival also features bonfires and other rituals marking the arrival of spring.

Just watch out—this is one Carnival where getting your daily dose of vitamin C might come with a bruise or two.