Giöeubia

The Giöeubia is a traditional celebration having great popularity in the northern Italian region of Lombardy. During the last Thursday in January, bonfires are lit, on which the Giubiana (i.e. a puppet of an old witch) burnt.

The Giubiana is placed on the pyre and set on fire. The rite is both symbolic and propitiatory. The Giubiana is burnt to ashes to terminate  the winter, so that the pyre flame is believed to predict an abundant harvest in the upcoming year.