La Carusa: the sheep shearing ritual in Calabria

An ancient peasant tradition that unites work, celebration, and community in the heart of Calabria.

🌿 A tradition that endures over time

Carusa is the traditional sheep shearing celebrated in some rural areas of Calabria, especially in late spring. More than just a seasonal chore, it's a collective ritual made up of ancient gestures, collaboration between shepherds, and moments of celebration.

📍 Where does the Carusa take place?

The mountain communities of Calabria's hinterland, particularly in the Aspromonte mountains and in the sheep-farming areas, keep this custom alive. During the carusa, friends, neighbors, and relatives gather to help with the shearing and share a lunch of traditional products.

🎉 A moment of celebration, as well as work

After work, fires are lit, traditional dishes like boiled mutton or fritters are cooked, and folk music is played. It's an opportunity to strengthen social bonds , pass on knowledge, and celebrate the fruits of labor.

♻️ Wool, a resource to be rediscovered

Sheared wool, once essential to the rural economy, is now being partially exploited through recovery and artisanal projects. There's a renewed interest in short supply chains, natural textiles, and sustainable production.

📹 Watch the Carusa video

✅ Why Carusa is still important today

• It preserves a thousand-year-old culture made of gestures, food and solidarity .
• It's an opportunity to rediscover natural and seasonal rhythms .
• It offers ideas for the local economy, rural tourism and sustainability .

"The carusa is a moment of silence, hard work, and smiles. It's Calabria working and telling its story, with heart and hands."