Thursday, March 31, 2011
2011 Events around Paluffo
2011 Events around Paluffo
God Friday 22 April, Easter Monday 25 April Firenze
Scoppio del Carro
Florence Scoppio del Carro (explosion of the cart) is a Florentine Easter Sunday tradition that dates back to the First Crusade. When the Crusaders conquered Jerusalem on 15 July 1099, the Florentine Pazzino di Ranieri de' Pazzi was the first to raise a Christian banner above the city. He was rewarded with three chips of stone from the Holy Sepulchre which were later used in Florence during Easter celebrations to light the fire symbolising new life. The fire was then distributed around the city by a cart, where families would relight their hearths which were traditionally extinguished on Good Friday. This tradition is reported as early as 1102. However, the Pazzi family were stripped of all their wealth and privileges and exiled from Florence after their aborted attempt to overthrow the Medici in 1478. From that moment on, the Signoria took over responsibility for the preparation and celebration of the ritual explosion of the cart. The richly decorated cart, which dates to the 18 C, is hauled by brightly bedecked white oxen from Porta al Prato to the cathedral square. A wire is run from the choir of the cathedral and fixed to the centre of the cart. In the meantime a procession of clergy leaves the Church of the Santissimi Apostoli and goes to the Baptistery. At midday, a dove-shaped rocket, the colombina, is released inside the cathedral. It slides along the wire, leaving a trail of smoke along the length of the nave. When it reaches the cart, it sets off a cluster of crackers and then slides back to its point of departure. After a few moments, hundreds of multicoloured fireworks positioned on the cart go off with much banging and whistling. A Catherine Wheel on top lights up and starts spinning, ending with a loud bang and opening up to form the petals of a lily. Then four small gonfalons appear, bearing the emblems of Florence, of the old Pazzi family, of the Wool Merchants’ Guild and currently, as a sign of peace in the world, of the UN. The cart starts from via Il Prato at 9 am. At 10 am the procession of clergy starts from the Church of SS. Apostoli. The explosion of the Cart occurs at 11 am.
28 May to 5 June Montespertoli
54a Mostra del Chianti - Chianti Festival - Chianti wine festival Montespertoli
4 and 11 June Certaldo
Medieval Dinner “A dinner with Messer Boccaccio”
www.elitropia.org
10-12 and 17-19 June Montespertoli
Sagra del cinghiale (wild boar)
18-19 June 2011 San Gimignano
Ferie delle Messi and the Giostra dei Bastoni
Medieval costume festival held each year on the third Saturday and Sunday of June in the streets and squares of San Gimignano. The Knights of Santa Fina re-enact the old "Feriae Messium" tradition with jousts between mounted knights armed with lances (Giostra dei Bastoni), plus food stands offering local gastronomic products including olive oil, wine and saffron together with a large arts and crafts market. The public is entertained during the festivities by minstrels, musicians, street performers and archers. Costumed horsemen and characters parade in the Historical Pageant on the Sunday afternoon of the festival, culminating with a chivalrous tournament in the Parco della Rocca, where the four quarters of San Gimignano compete. The winning quarter parades through the city and celebrations continue into the evening.
18 June (by night) and 4 September Arezzo
Giostra del Saracino
Arezzo Giostra del Saracino (Joust of the Saracen) is held twice a year, a night version on the third Saturday in June and the second on the first Sunday in September (). This tournament has its origins in the early 16 C and commemorates Christian efforts to hold back the tide of Islam in the 14 C. A lively and colourful procession of costumed participants is followed by the main event in which eight costumed knights charge towards a wooden representation of the Saracen, aiming to hit the Saracen's shield with lances. The Saracen is mounted on a swivel so that part of the task of the knight has to avoid being struck back. Each pair of knights represents one of Arezzo's four rival districts and their supporters each occupy a side of the piazza. The winner receives a golden lance.
2-3 July Monteriggioni
The "Festa Medievale" of Monteriggioni takes place on the first weekend of July. This is the one of the most famous mediaeval pageants in Italy. Local people (and professionals) dressed in mediaeval costume play the roles of farmers, merchants, soldiers, cross-bowmen, friars etc. displaying ancient arts and crafts along the few narrow streets and in the piazza. There are also magicians, astrologers, ballad singers, jesters, jugglers and acrobats coming from distant cities, and mediaeval dishes and drinks are available. It's well worth it to do a bit of planning to attend this festival. Although many other towns now have similar festivals, this is undoubtedly one of the best. Click here for some pictures of the Monteriggioni "Festa Medievale".
2 July and 16 August Siena
Palio
Siena Palio is a very famous bare-back horse race round the sand-covered Piazza del Campo that takes place every 2 July and 16 August. The contrade (town neighbourhoods) compete for the palio ( banner) dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The square is filled with costumed pageantry before the race and afterwards massive feasts are set up on long outdoor tables that can stretch for blocks on the side streets. Tickets for favoured locations provided with seating are expensive but a good view of the race can also be obtained from the middle of the piazza where a large crowd stands
3 July Certaldo
Historical costume parade
www.elitropia.org
13 – 17 July Certaldo
Mercantia
See in our video blog how incredible fair is Mercantia: in the inner historical center of Certaldo artists, players, singers meets for free sessions. See more on Paluffo videoblog at: http://paluffoblog.blogspot.com/search/label/events
14 July Castello di Poppiano Montespertoli
La Madia dei Sapori and local market
1-8 August Montespertoli
Festival “Amedeo Bassi” 5th lyric Opera
10 August Montespertoli
Degustation under the stars (S. Lorenzo night)
Sunday 24 June Firenze
Calcio Storico,
Florence Calcio Storico (costume football), the famous Florentine traditional football that dates from the Renaissance and takes place on 24 June plus two other days that are chosen on Easter Sunday. All are in early July or June. Four teams originating from each of the traditional city districts participate in the tournament: Blue for S. Croce, Green for S. Giovanni, Red for S. Maria Novella, and White for S. Spirito. All of the players are dressed in mediaeval breeches. There are 27 players on each team which means that matches can by fairly violent given the large number of players. Rules are minimal, so that almost anything is allowed to get hold of the ball and score a "caccia".
8-10 and 15-17 July Monteriggioni
Festa Medievale,
Monteriggioni Festa Medievale (Mediaeval Festival) takes place on the first and second weekends of July:. This is one of the best costume festivals in Italy with local and also professional performers, music, demonstrations of mediaeval trades, food stands filling the piazza inside the fortified town of Monteriggioni.
21 and 28 August Volterra
Volterra Volterra A.D 1398 is a mediaeval fair that takes place each year during the last whole week of August, starting on a Sunday, and is one of the best mediaeval fairs in Italy. A week of costumes, events, food complete with mediaeval money.
7 and 8 September Firenze
Festa della Rificolona
Florence Festa della Rificolona (Festival of the Lanterns), , is said to be one of Florence's oldest festivals, and has its origins in the most important farmers market of the year, held in the Piazza of SS Annunziata on the eve of the birth of the Virgin. The farmers and their families would get up very early, put on their Sunday-best and walk to Florence by the light of candles held in tissue-paper lanterns on the end of poles. The sophisticated Florentines would mock the yokels' attempts at elegance and the children would make their own brightly coloured lanterns and follow along, jeering and whistling. Today, the night of the 7th sees the children of Florence running through the streets with their rificolone, and there are street parties, theatre and a huge market in the square.
12-13 November Montespertoli
Festa del Vino Novello - the new wine festival in Montespertoli.
19-20 November Montspertoli
White Truffle and new oil Festival -.