The Mont Blanc heritage plays to the sound of its own music Les Badochys is the folk group of Courmayeur Mont Blanc that keeps the authentic traditions of the Alps alive by performing dances and music of the region.
Born in 1956 from an idea of a company of friends, the folk group Les Badochys provides entertainment for the most important events in Courmayeur, such as the ancient Fair of Sant’Orso di Aosta. They add their own style to traditional folk music and dances to secure a timeless success with all types of crowds.
I believe that music has to do its job: talk clearly to the heart of the younger people to invite them not to fear and fight for a more equal and rightful society. (Pierpaolo Capovilla)
Dances and music of the Alps
The origins of the costumes worn by “Les Badochys” go back a long way: the men’s elegant outfits in red and black the traditional Valle d’Aosta colors, hark back to the uniforms of the Napoleonic troops, which passed through the Aosta Valley during the Italian Campaign.
The women wear dresses traditionally kept for special occasions, made in heavy, hand-woven woolen fabric trimmed with bobbin lace, a colorful silk apron, a bolero and the traditional beaded choker and black velvet necklace decorated with a gold heart and cross. Legend has it that every girl keeps the first romantic letter ever received in her bonnet, in order to keep it straight.
Traditional parades always line up behind “Le Badoche“, an emblematic halberd of Courmayeur made of multicolored ribbons. Women keep the ribbons tied around their waist until their wedding day, when they offer them to the “Badoche”.