Every alternate year, at carnival time, there takes place one of the most peculiar events in the entire region; namely, the
towing of the plough (Pfluagziachn).
This custom, involving an old 19th Century horse-drawn
plough, is towed around the town by a horse and six oxen accompanied by a
masked group of actors in an improvised spectacle involving mock
arguments between opposite types of characters. Examples might be: young
and old, men and women, homesteaders and nomads, landlords and serfs,
secretive and public figures with even the female roles traditionally
played by males.
Historical background
The carnivalesque Pfluagziachn in
Stelvio/Stilfs
is an old custom and, while traditional rowdy rituals banishing winter
are commonplace in the Venosta Valley, the towing of the plough in
Stelvio is different due to its decidedly theatrical characteristics. It
resembles more of an interactive street parade recalling themes of the
past in a theatrical comedy, parodying village life in a bygone world
governed by traditions.