Daria studied the Ladin language and history in University. Today she works at the Ladin radio and tv station. Daria has published both literary and scientific works, including useful multilingual tourist glossaries, and has a friendly and easy-going character. Is there anything else you could ask for? 

As part of this custom, the girl would stand in the centre of the room and throw her slipper towards the door: If the tip of the shoe pointed towards the door, it was considered to be a sign of her getting married within the same year.

Well away from the woods and farms, the boys set up a nice campfire and red-hot wooden discs, which were thrown at a safe distance and with sticks towards the fire. Whoever’s disc came closest to the fire was the winner.

The “carlascé”, the carnival in Alta Badia, used to be a festivity where young men dressed up to celebrate the end of the cold season and find new love.

On her wedding day, the bride wore the “guant da paur”, a gown adorned with a silk apron and a garland made from lilies of the valley, while her groom had a garland on his arm and hat.

On December 26, young men visited farmsteads where girls of marriageable age lived to order "les fëies"—coloured foil flowers which they wore on their hats on January 6. On the farms, they were also expected with delicious fried pancakes, the “cütles”.

San Micurá, Saint Nicholas. He visits the children in their homes at the beginning of December, rewarding the well-behaved and punishing those who misbehaved. Accompanying San Micurá are angels, who hand over the presents, and the “Malans” - devils who scare children and adults by ringing cowbells and chains. Up until a few years ago, it was common practice for the Malans to enter a house to smear the girl living there with soot if she was more than 14 years old. Back in the days of our ancestors, children who lived on remote farms and who couldn't always be visited by Saint Nicholas himself, would leave their shoes on the doorstep. Then, they would run to their shoes the following morning with pounding hearts, eager to see if there was a small gift or a whip inside. Somewhat like the feast of Saint Lucia on December 13. The magic of Christmas lies in its centuries-old traditions.

The nativity scene and the altar, created on autumn evenings. Boys carving Christmas figures. The Christmas tree, which symbolises a long life. And finally, the Advent wreath is woven - a tradition that is still widespread in Ladin households. Sunday after Sunday, the four candles are lit to ring in Christmas. In Alta Badia, just as in the other valleys of the Alps, the festivities not only uphold centuries-old traditions, they also preserve the magic of an intimate and cosy atmosphere that withstands the cold of winter.

In Alta Badia, the Dolomites as well as in Italy and Europe, we celebrate Epiphany on January 6 - on the twelfth night after Jesus was born. It is believed that this day coincides with the end of the wise men's long journey, who followed the Christmas star to the barn in which Jesus was born twelve days earlier. As the three wise men knew that they were going to meet a king in the stable, they brought gold, incense and myrrh as gifts. Presents that were usually given to kings and gods. And indeed, as soon as they saw Jesus, they immediately recognised him as the king of a new world.

Legend has it that the “Donacia”, also known as the “Witch of the Dolomites”, was an old and evil woman. Dressed as a witch, she went from one house to the other to scare the children. But in reality she fulfilled a very important role as she swept away the passing year from the houses with a large broom, thereby chasing away the demons and evil spirits of winter. According to the tales, she came from the Sass de Putia, or “Pütia” as the mountain is called in Ladin. We like to think of her as a hunchbacked and skinny queen who, to this very day, comes down the chimneys like an early herald of spring to pass out sweets and dispel winter's icy cold.

On December 26, marriage-aged young men once went to the farmsteads to order “les fëies”, flowers made from coloured aluminium foil, which were then placed on their hats on January 6. They were welcomed with delicious fried pancakes, a custom that is also known as “jí a cütles” or “going for pancakes”. If there were several girls living in one household, the young men would gather in groups to celebrate and dance, accompanied by the “orghi da man”, the accordions. A feast of love.

Easter and eggs have been going hand in hand for a long time. Testimony to this are our peasant ancestors who created a game - the “cufé” - which granted the winner an extra supply of food that often consisted of rare commodities. The game of “cufé” involves two players and two eggs: whoever succeeds in breaking both ends of the opponent's egg wins, with the broken eggs being the prize. A game that children nowadays like to play quite a lot.

St. Joseph's Day used to be a day of celebration for the Ladin community, on which the boys went to the girls' houses to order Easter eggs “aposté i üs”.

Today, as in the old days, the young people of Alta Badia crafted the “les granares d'orí”, brooms made from olive wood, which were then carried to church for a blessing and served as protection against evil powers.

This celebration takes its name from the enlistment cards, the “zetoles”, that were handed out to all draftees who qualified for military service. They thus proved that they were healthy and fit to join the adult world.

On Easter Sunday, it has always been tradition to carry a skilfully decorated basket of Ladin delicacies to church for blessing.

The farmers tried to prevent their harvests from being damaged by means of religious, popular and superstitious practices.

Besides its religious significance, it was believed that the procession on Corpus Christi would protect against evil forces, the devil and storms.

To celebrate this event, which blends piety and history, it is tradition to hike up to the surrounding mountain peaks and light bonfires.

The mowers and rakers in ladin “setusc” and “tiradöms”, gathered for this occasion to dance, sing and have fun - always to the accompaniment of an accordion, which animated the dances.

According to tradition, on August 15, women and children carry a basket filled with flowers and herbs, the so-called “ciüf”, which are carefully arranged to be blessed. In addition to geraniums, currant blossoms, arnica, selphium (ciarí dai ciüf), wormwood (aussënt) and tansy (erba dal lat), each basket must include a medicinal herb to compose an M, which represents the “M” of Mary.

The farmers started with the meadows near their houses and then continued their work on the high mountain pastures by the end of the month, where they all gathered in a circle to have lunch together.

The farmers hoped for cool nights and warm days for a good harvest, as this would result in high haystacks. Dew was a blessing while rain was bad.

In order to sow the grains, the farmers formed a circle and beat rhythmically on the piles of ears. It was a procedure that took several weeks, during which the families helped each other.

In the Viles, typical settlements of two or more houses, stables and a small square, the oven was used collectively and bread was baked over several days.

On the following day, the entire village gathered for the traditional town fair, at which the valley's farmers displayed their livestock and the craftsmen their artisan work. 

One “Gnissant“ tradition that has been upheld to this day, involves the godparents – the “tot” and the “tota” - bringing their godchildren a white bread shaped like a horse or a hen.

When the livestock returns from its alpine pastures, every village puts on a feast. You can hear the cracking of whips and the sound of the cowbells resonating through the streets. The most beautiful cow wears a wreath made of ribbons, flowers and religious symbols while all cows have the most beautiful bells around their necks - “les tlunches” - symbolising the farmer’s wealth.

The children all head to church to celebrate St Martin's Day, lighting the way with the lanterns they created together a few days earlier.