Corajisima Returns to Laino Borgo: Seven Lenten Dolls for the Hamlets

Corajisima returns to Laino Borgo

Among stone alleys and ornate doorways, Laino Borgo has renewed interest in a Lenten folk ritual that combines popular religion, anthropology and community participation. An exhibition and a conference, together with a practical workshop, revived the Corajisima—the symbolic figure representing Lent and the aftermath of Carnival.

The ritual and local roots

Locally, the custom was kept alive by the memory of Rosa Micca, who used to hang a rag doll on her balcony to mark the weeks of penance. Her legacy has been preserved by her son, Luigi Calvosa, and local associations that safeguarded both material and oral traces of the rite.

The event: exhibition, conference and workshop

The day featured an exhibition titled "Paese che vai, Corajisima che trovi", displaying ritual effigies from Southern Italy and artifacts collected through field research. A conference explored anthropological and sonic aspects of the transition from Carnival to Easter, with contributions from researchers and ethnomusicologists.

• Organizers: Municipal administration and the local Pro Loco association.
• Exhibition curation: regional representative of the Lenten Dolls Network.
• Speakers: local witnesses, ethnomusicological analyses and researchers from the area.
• Workshop outcome: community-made Lenten dolls, resulting in seven Corajisime—one for each hamlet.

Why this initiative matters

Bringing the Corajisima back to Laino Borgo is more than an act of remembrance: it is a cultural asset for promoting the Pollino area's heritage. Recovering rituals, sounds and objects helps reinforce collective identity and creates new opportunities to interpret intangible local heritage.

Visitor information

• Location: historic center of Laino Borgo (hamlets and main square).
• What to see: exhibition of Lenten dolls, ethnographic materials, sound-based ritual installations.
• Tips: combine the visit with a walk through the hamlets to see the Corajisime on display and talk with residents to learn local stories.

The initiative confirmed that cooperation between institutions, associations and citizens is vital to keep living traditions alive. For participation or information contact the Municipality of Laino Borgo or the local Pro Loco association.