The Canta dei mesi (i.e. the Ballad of the months) is a Cembran show that used to take place already in the eighteenth century; it's an allegory of the months of the year.
These the characters: the King, splendidly dressed with a suit of Spanish style of the 17th century, a servant, twelve actors representing the months and four who symbolize the seasons. Together with them there are two pages (they're dressed with 17th century costumes too), a harlequin with two or three disciples.
The actors who interpret the roles of months and seasons wear costumes that allegorize their respective periods.
Guards with halberd “keep the public order”, while a few musicians give the accompaniment: accordions, guitars, violins and mandolins.
The “Canta“ is usually performed in summertime, but sometimes it occurs during the last days of the carnival.
The current version of the text was written in the 19th century, in Italian language, by a ballad singer with a typical Cembran surname: Michele Gottardi (although he came from Nave San Rocco, in the Adige Valley, and he was therefore called él poeta da la Nav i.e. the poet of Nave); but the original text, by an unknown author, dates back to the previous century.
The show had varying fortunes throughout the time: sometimes regularly performed, in other periods neglected for years.
In 1974 it occurred in Piazzo, near the remains of the Castle of Segonzano; in the 90s of the 20th century the “Canta” was played in Cembra on initiative of a group of young people from Sevignano.
The last performance I know occurred in July 2003.
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