December 3, 2026 20:00
A few days before the celebrations for Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of Pozza, the traditional devils' race through the streets of "Meida" is revived, in an evening reserved for the most daring of hearts
The arrival of Saint Nicholas is a much-loved tradition in Val di Fassa, particularly in Pozza, where a festival on 6 December celebrates the village's patron saint. According to tradition, the Saint visits children from house to house, accompanied by angels and the Krampus - fearsome, devil-like creatures with animal features, as feared as they are loved.
On Thursday 3 December, the "Krampus da Poza" return for their traditional evening parade, ahead of the grand procession planned for 2027. Their mission? To frighten not just naughty children, as an old legend tells us, but everyone they meet along the way. With the loud clanging of bells and chains announcing their arrival, they parade through the streets wearing goatskins, tall wooden stilts and eerie carved wooden masks with long tongues and pointed horns.
This year's parade will be held on a smaller scale. Starting from the Church of San Nicolò, the procession makes its way along Strada de Meida to Piaza de Comun, the village square, where hot tea and mulled wine await visitors.
During Advent, sacred and secular traditions come together in Val di Fassa, weaving together legends, ancient rituals and popular religious customs. This heritage remains an important part of Ladin culture, with Saint Nicholas representing good and the fearsome Krampus embodying its darker counterpart.
