The Vallje of Civita
Tradition, dance and spirituality in the Arbëreshë village of the Pollino
Religious
Among the most evocative rituals of Holy Week in Calabria, the Vallje of Civita represent one of the most authentic expressions of Arbëreshë culture. In the small village of Civita, listed among Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages and overlooking the Pollino National Park, Easter is celebrated with centuries-old traditions that blend spirituality, historical memory and cultural identity.
The Easter celebrations of the Arbëreshë community follow the Byzantine rite and take place during Java and Madhe, the Albanian Holy Week, which culminates in Easter, known as Pashkëvet. Within this context, two central moments of the tradition take place: Fjalza and Mirë, the rite of the Good News of the Resurrection, and the famous Vallje, ritual dances that wind through the village streets.
The songs accompanying the Vallje recount historical epics, folk ballads and love stories, recalling in particular the exploits of the Albanian hero Giorgio Castriota Scanderbeg, a symbol of resistance against the Ottoman Empire. A distinctive feature of the festival is the traditional Arbëreshë costume, worn mainly by women: exquisite dresses in brightly coloured silk and satin, embellished with gold embroidery and passed down from generation to generation as part of the family heritage.
