The cold blasts that blow down through the Valle del Gran San Bernardo have earned this place the nickname of “Coumba Freide”.

Nevertheless, the freezing cold of this period is mitigated by the warmth and passion, shown by the inhabitants of the Great-Saint-Bernard  and Valpelline valleys, in the organisation of what must be the most unusual carnival in all Aosta Valley region.
All the villages have similar customs, with some more or less significant differences. 

The traditional costumes, worn for this event, recall the passage of Napoleon's soldiers here, in May 1800. The so-called landzette, the bizarre costumes used in this Carnival, consist of clothes and hats that recall the uniforms worn by Napoleon's forces. These expensive, and entirely hand-made, costumes are adorned with beads, sequins and small mirrors, which reflect the light and ward off evil spirits.
The faces of the landzette are covered by masks that used to be made of wood; they carry the hair of a horse's tail in their hands and wear a belt with a bell around their waists. These elements are interpreted by anthropologists as symbolic instruments used to banish evil spirits.