Quarantana

In a few quite remote villages and small towns in their historic centres, we noticed life-size old lady puppets dressed in black hanging high above the streets, often holding feathers like this one in Martina Franca. Apparently it's part of the old end of the Carnivale period pre Easter traditions during the 40 days of Lent. She is Quarantana , wife of Carnevale,  who is killed off at the end of the Carnival period, along with all the excesses and self indulgence he represents.  She's supposed to be mourning her husband, and carries feathers for each week of Lent. On Easter day Quarantana will be either burnt or blown up.