Our cultural roots and traditions

THE RITUAL OF WOOD AND THE CX

One of the most significant traditions is that linked to the working of wood, a fundamental resource in these valleys. The men of Borca were famous for being sawyers and carpenters: they knew how to read the trunks, choosing the best fir trees to build houses, tools, beams, and even wooden skis, once used for traveling across the snow. Inside the homes, the protagonist was the "larín," the domestic hearth: a place of warmth, but also of socializing and storytelling. Here, people gathered in the evenings, after a day in the fields or woods, and ancient tales and legends were passed down, often linked to mountain spirits, woodland witches, or the mysterious Salbanei.

THE LADIN DIALECT AND VILLAGE FESTIVALS

Another aspect that makes Borca di Cadore unique is its language: Cadore Ladin is still spoken here, a language rooted in folk Latin that has survived over time as a strong symbol of identity. Ladin is not just a language, but a living memory: in place names, in the tales of the elders, in traditional songs. Among the most heartfelt festivals is the Festival of Sant'Anna, the town's patron saint, celebrated every July with religious services, music, folk games, and traditional dishes such as polenta with pastin and apple fritters. It is a moment of reunion and reunion, when even those who live far away return to rediscover faces, gestures, and memories.

FLAVORS OF THE PAST: A POOR CUISINE, RICH IN IDENTITY

Local gastronomy is another pillar of tradition. A mountain cuisine, essential yet intense, made with simple ingredients: flour, milk, potatoes, wild herbs, aged cheeses, and smoked meats. The signature dish is casunziei, a ravioli filled with beetroot or chives, often topped with melted butter and poppy seeds. There's also balò, a sweet braided bread prepared for the holidays, and formai imbriagà, aged in grape marc.