Gianduja refers not only to Piedmont’s famous chocolate but to Piedmont’s famous carnival mask. Gianduja the carnival character made his debut at the start of the 1800's thanks to the imagination of puppeteers Sales and Bellone in Asti, and the tradition of the Gianduja mask soon became popular in Turin. The character’s name was originally Girolamo della Grigna and was later transformed into GiÙàn d’ la dÙja., to describe the fact that Gianduja always carries a container with him (the container, called the “dÙja” in the dialect of Asti, is of course used for wine). The Gianduja mask incarnates various characteristics of the Piedmontese character – Gianduja is conservative (bÙgianèn) but good humored; he is clever and sophisticated although he can give the impression of being course and naive; Gianduja is cheerful, but he takes his duties and promises seriously. Gianduja has a ruddy complexion and his ponytail wig points up characteristically from under his hat. He wears a three-horned hat, a brown jacket with red trim, a yellow vest, short green knee-length pants, red socks and low-heeled shows with a brass buckle. His companion/girlfriend goes by the name Giacometta. Once upon a time Gianduja would ride around on an old donkey; today he makes his appearance at carnival on a fancy coach. |
