With Italy being a predominately Roman Catholic country, evident with the Vatican situated at its center, Christian holidays are pretty important around here. Holidays such as Easter.
There are typical things, like hollow chocolate eggs that may or may not have something inside or an easter bread in the shape of a dove with chunks of candied oranges inside, topped with sugar and almonds. And then the general consumption of chocolate, with each chocolate shop busy for weeks trying to fullfill and prepare for the demand. Yet there is more than food to mark this auspicious occasion. Every region of Italy has its own traditions and ways to mark the event special and unique to them. Florence is no different, and the way the Florentines have decided to make Easter special is with funky costumes. And explosions.
Il scoppio del carro is the offical name for this particular festivities. An ordinate cart is pulled around the city by a pair of white oxen in a procession of musicians and flag bearers, each dressed in a doublet and hose with the poofy pants (now before you start making fun, it should be known that it is a great honor to have one of these positions and I think I even heard it was passed down, but I'm not sure). This parade marches through the streets followed by families and tourists taking pictures, bringing them to the front of the Duomo where everyone goes in to do Mass.
After the Mass is done, everyone begins singing and a mechanical dove is released from the altar which flies out to the cart. Once it hits the cart, fireworks shoot out, along with colored smoke. The better the display is the more prosperous the year will be. And people are pushing and shoving, trying to get a look at the shower of color and see something truly magnificient and special, for how many times will you be in Florence on Easter.
I, unfortunately, did not see this. All that I have narrated is what I saw in the after effects as the dressed up men and oxen pulling the cart processed away from the Duomo or from the stories of my roommates who were able to see it. I was asleep, my body worn out from the hiking of Cinque Terre from the day previous and had decided to not wake up to my alarm. Sigh.
Well, I can't change the past, but it was still an event being in Florence. And now as I am residing through the after math of Pasqua (Easter) I have joyfully noticed less tourists. Hopefully this pattern will remain till I leave in (gasp!) 16 days.
Until Next Time!
Ciao!
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