Events in Bellano, the traditional feast of the Pesa Vegia

The Pesa Vegia is the most famous of the events in Bellano, and it is absolutely not to be missed. It falls on January 5^th each year and tells a 400-year-old story steeped in magic and legend. Its origin has always been shrouded in mystery, but recent research conducted by Antonio Rusconi has suggested a likely date of 1605.
In that year, Spanish governor Pedro Acevedo, Count of Fuentes, cancelled an earlier monetary reform dating back to 1604, at the same time restoring the old unit of measurement, known as Pesa (hence the origin of the name Pesa Vegia, meaning the old unit of measure).

The return to the old unit of measure was well received by the people; in fact, the Pesa Nova system was not particularly liked by the merchants of Bellano, and during a vigorous municipal assembly the population incited an appeal to the governor to abolish the Pesa Nova in favor of a return to the old measure. 
The Count of Fuentes was magnanimous: he organized a delegation and sailed to Bellano.

In the village the tension was evident. From the early afternoon hours, a great bustle of local inhabitants began to animate the streets, the beach, and the entire lakefront. Everyone was anxiously awaiting the arrival of the boat with the governor. 
The air was cold and darkness pressed in. The first bonfires were lit, people were talking, animatedly discussing while occasionally peering into the darkness of the lake.

Suddenly there was a lapping sound. Everyone stood up intent, alert, cold, worried ... and behold, the traditional Larian batèl appeared in the night, heading toward the shore.
The Bellanesi did not even wait for the boat to dock and, with all the breath they had, shouted from the shore their question: Pesa vegia or Pesa nova?” 

From the boat came the answer: Pesa Vegia!

At these words, everyone rejoiced and rushed to the dock to welcome the Spanish messengers. Some remembered that it was on the eve of Epiphany and, drunk with joy and more, they staged a representation of the Magi walking through the streets of the village, stopping at every open inn, drinking and eating until morning.
Every year, and this happened even in times of war or famine, the people of Bellano celebrate the event in a lively celebration where the sacred merges with the profane in an unbreakable bond.