RIFICOLONA

In the first week of September, the children of Florence come out in the streets in their Sunday best, singing songs and carrying papier-mâché lanterns tied to the ends of sticks, called rificolone. While many believe that rificolone celebrates the day troops of Florence triumphantly entered Siena, on August 2nd, 1555, with lanterns tied to the ends of the soldiers' pikes, there is amore popular reasoning surrounding rificolone. On September 7th, the day before the nativity of the Virgin a great autumn fair was held in Piazza Santissima Annunziata. The farmers and village people would come to the market in their finest clothes as last chance to earn money before the winter. Coming from the outer regions, they would arrive early carrying lanterns made by hanging candles with tissue papers acting as wind-shields. Their outfits and lanterns would be ridiculed by the children of Florence who would laugh and shoot at the farmers with their blowguns. They would sing songs ridiculing them. Till today a huge fest is held at the Piazza Santissima Annunziata on the 6th and 7th September with great food and wonderful performances being the highlights of the day.

CALCIO IN COSTUME

One of the most popular and well known games of Florence Calcio in Costume is basically a costumed football game. Played on the 16th, 24th and 30th of June, it is to commemorate the famous match of 1530 and is till today played by men in 15th century costumes. The 'game' was originally played not as a game but by soldiers in military encampments to build up strength. Though 'calcio' in Italian means football, the game as such bears no resemblance to football. In 1530, the Imperial army laid siege to Florence under the orders of Pope Clement the VII. The Florentines, to snub the siege played the historic game on 17th February 1530 while musicians played from the roof from Santa Croce. The games have continued and are played till today on the three days that mark the day of the recurrence of the Patron Saint. The games are now played to tourist and spectators in coloured costumes. Two teams of 27 players each, play for an hour for the cheering crowds.

FESTA DI SAN GIOVANNI

Festa di San Giovanni is celebrated on 24th June coinciding with Calcio in Costume. The festival has a grand display of fireworks at around 10pm.

SCOPPIO DEL CARRO

Scoppio del Carro, or the explosion of the carriage is held every year in Florence on Easter Sunday. This festival signifies the Holy Fire that was kindled using the stone chippings from the Holy Sepulchre, which was then used to kindle the flames on all the hearths in town. Every Easter Sunday in Florence, a great chariot dating back to the eighteenth century pulled by white oxen and paraded around the town from Porta a Prato to the Cathedral Square. A wire connects it to the main altar in the cathedral and when the time is right, during midday mass, the Cardinal Archbishop will light a rocket that is shaped like a dove with the Holy Fire obtained from chippings from the Sepulchre. Ther coket would shoot down to the chariot that is filled with fireworks and would ignite with a bang to the cheers of the gathering.

FESTA DEL GRILLO

The people of Florence believe that song of the cricket to bring luck. In late April or Early May the Festa del Grillo or the cricket festival is held. A market is held at the Cascine Park where crickets are sold in colorful, hand woven cages. According to tradition if a man decorates his beloved's doors or windows with flowers and gives her a cricket, luck would favour him in love. Days leading on to the festival children hunt for crickets to cage them. The male crickets have a yellow stripe to make them discernible. Crickets that sing are believed to bring the household luck. The children would capture them in wicker baskets and take them the park on the day of the feats and release the crickets. The festival is held on Sunday after Ascension Day.

CALCIO STORICO FIORENTINO

It's as if Merlin, the wizard, had whizzed invisibly into Piazza Santa Croce and waved his wand over a seemingly orderly colorful parade turning it into a screaming melee. This is what the Calcio Storico is all about, beauty, brutality and brawn. Get involved with this ancient Florentine football game tinged with the fiery Italian passion and tradition. Did you know that the Calcio Storico or traditional football played in costume dates back to the 15th century? As an immensely popular game among aristocratic young noble men, Calcio Storico was played mainly in front of the Basilica of Santa Croce and some times in the areas of Via Il Prato, Piazza della Signoria or Piazza Santa Maria Novella. Held in celebration of the Feast of St. John, the patron of Florence, the matches were invariably held at the Piazza Santa Croce. Bringing in the elements of style, strength and a super hero image, the players used this as bait to win the hearts of the ladies who were present there. If you are there in June, don't miss this awesome pageantry which is mingled with sweat, sumptuousness and sensuality.