Orange tossing in Ivrea

The main event at the Carnival of Ivrea (Antico Palazzo della Credenza, 10015 Ivrea, Italy; fax 0125 641521, www.carnevalediivrea.it), to be held in 2010 on Feb. 13-16, is the Battle of the Oranges in the public squares of Ivrea, 30 miles north of Turin.

The battle has its roots in people who would throw oranges along with confetti and flowers from windows above the parade. During the battle, the teams on foot represent the commoners in revolt while the teams in the carriages represent the feudal lord’s men.