VERNIO

Every year, the first sunday in lent, it happens in Vernio the historical recalling, born as "Polenta's Feast" or "Pulendina". The origin of this feast is very ancient, and puts itself between history and legend.
The popular tradition hands down that in the XVI century the local population, which had been completely despoiled of all their possession by mercenary troops coming from Barberino who moved in Prato direction, become so poor that Counts Bardi - feudataries of the county - had mercy on the whole population, and on an Ash-day of a not specified year, they organized an extraordinary distribution of pudding of chestnut meal, herrings and stockfish.

Nowadays, in order to recall the fine action of Count Bardi, it still happens the distribution of above main courses, which many years ago satisfied local population's hunger.
During the feast, celebrated every year on the first sunday after ash-period, skilled "cook-mens of polenta" dish up cauldrons of genuine pudding of chestnut meal, which is seved together with herrings and stockfish to all people by the representants of "Poverty Society", who always perpetuates the tradition recalling the fine action of Counts Bardi.