Festivals in Florence
Festival of Saint John the Baptist (Festa Di San Giovanni)
St. John the Baptist, Patron Saint of Florence, is celebrated in a grand way in Florence every June 24th. His birthday has been celebrated since the medieval times as a three day festival. In the morning, a special procession by the clergy begins at the Duomo and ends at the entrance of the Baptistery door. At night, beautiful fireworks are displayed from the hills above the city, Piazzale Michelangelo. The view of these fireworks from the bridges by the Arno River is spectacular! The entire city gathers to see this beautiful celebration of their Patron Saint.
Easter (Pasqua) Sunday
Easter in Florence is celebrated with the “Explosion of the Cart” (Scoppio del Carro). An old carriage is pulled by 2 white oxen from Porta al Prato to Piazza Duomo. A wonderful flag ceremony takes place at the entrance of the Duomo. Then, at noon, during the midday mass, a firework that is shaped like a dove is lit. This dove is connected via wire to the cart outside the Duomo. The dove comes down the wire and ignites all the fireworks that are in the cart and crowds cheer on celebrating Easter.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Natale in Firenze)
Christmas season in Italy begins with the Immaculate Conception Day of the Blessed Virgin Mary which is on December 8th. Beautiful Christmas lights and decorations are seen all over the cities. The most important decoration in the churches is the Nativity scene, the Presepe. Naples has the best Presepe and is most well known for Nativity cribs. The main piazzas have wonderful Christmas tree decorated. Midnight mass at the main Duomo include beautiful singing of the Gregorian chants by the choir.
The most important place in Italy for Christmas midnight mass is at Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. The Pope gives the midnight mass which is also seen on TV all around the world. The next day at noon the Pope gives his Christmas sermon from the balcony of his home that faces the piazza.
Other festivals in Italy include the Ephiphany Day (January 6th), All Saints’ Day (November 1st) and Assumption of Virgin Mary (August 15th).
Photos courtesy of GilGalaad, superfluous consonants, and CiuPix
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