The start of Lent in Italy is marked in one town by the final Battle of the Oranges.
It's nearly Pancake Day, the popular name in Britain for Shrove Tuesday. It's traditional here to eat pancakes doused with lemon juice and sugar that evening.
In Italy, Shrove Tuesday marks the end of the carnival season. Carnivals, such as that in Venice, are held in the run up to Lent and the celebrations culminate on Mardi Gras - or Fat Tuesday. People finish off their carnival sweets and prepare to follow a less rich diet during Lent, perhaps giving up a favourite food (good time to go on a diet).. These carnival sweets are generally flavoured with Marsala (or sometimes Grappa or rum) and vary in name from 'cenci' (rags) to 'nodi' (knots).
In the little town of Ivrea, in Piedmont, Shrove Tuesday sees the final battle of the oranges - an extraordinary food 'fight' which takes place in the centre of the town. During these historic battles everyone enjoys large plates of fagioli grassi - a hearty bean stew made with pork and cooked on huge cauldrons in the streets. It's just one of many Italian festivals that has strong links with certain foods.
