Laino Borgo Rediscovers the Corajisima: heritage, workshops and

Laino Borgo rediscovers the Corajisima: heritage, workshops and exhibition

In the historic centre of the Pollino hamlet, among stone doorways and old hearths, Laino Borgo highlighted a local custom that forms part of its identity: the Corajisima, a popular personification of Lent. The event took place on Saturday 28 March at the Municipal Library and involved the municipality, the pro loco, associations and residents.

What took place

• Scholarly conference exploring anthropological and musical dimensions of the rite, with presentations by regional researchers.
• Exhibition titled "Paese che vai, Corajisima che trovi," displaying ritual effigies and objects linked to Lenten practices from southern Italy.
• Hands-on workshop where residents crafted the traditional Lenten dolls, resulting in seven Corajisime—one for each historical neighbourhood.

Why it matters

The initiative showed that reviving popular symbols—ranging from rag dolls to strings of dried vegetables—is more than collective remembrance: it is a tool for enhancing the area’s immaterial heritage. Collaboration between local institutions and the community proved essential to keeping these practices alive.

What to see and hear

• The exhibition at the Municipal Library featuring ritual simulacra and Lenten items.
• The seven Corajisime created in the workshops, displayed across the hamlet’s neighbourhoods or in the main square.
• Explanations of traditional sound instruments (cowbells, rattles and noisemakers) used in the passage from Carnival to Easter.

Local safeguarding in practice

Initiatives like this generate cultural value in small towns: they link associations, attract researchers and visitors from nearby regions and create sustainable tourism opportunities grounded in local memory and traditions.

Practical tip: to experience the Corajisima firsthand, visit during Lent to attend rituals, join workshops and take part in activities organised by the Pro Loco and the town administration.