Zeza di Capriglia

The Zeza di Capriglia is a folkloric event that takes place in Capriglia Irpina, during the Carnival celebrations.

As in other towns in Irpinia, the Capriglia carnival tradition is inspired by the Neapolitan Zeza, a popular and grotesque representation born in the mid-17th century and which also spread to the Campania hinterland, with some variations made by individual local communities. 

The protagonists of the Capriglia Zeza are: Pulcinella, Zeza, Porziella, Don Zinobio and the Sailor. During this carnival performance, an event is staged concerning the family of Zeza, Pulcinella's wife and mother of Porziella (Porziella would like to marry the Sailor, but Pulcinella makes her marry the doctor Don Zenobio). The whole affair is sung and danced, accompanied by a peasant dance of French origin, the quadrille. This dance is led by a leader, called "caporaballo", who guides the procession of masks around the town and ensures that each dance is original because he decides on a different arrangement each time.

The event is organised every year by an association, "La Zeza di Capriglia Irpina", which aims to promote, preserve and pass on a folkloric tradition that has been renewed for centuries.