Festa della Rificolona, Festival of the Paper Lantern

On the 7th we went to the Festa della Rificolona. It is a great annual parade around Florence. Everyone carries around decorative lanterns; homemade and store bought.

Throughout the parade there are different bands and musicians walking with everyone playing jolly music with choreographed dancing. Just mini marching bands of tons of fun keeping everyone moving!

The funnest part of this parade is amongst all of the paper lanterns are little boys running around shooting them with spit wads. The lanterns become full of little spit wads and I was hit plenty
of times too!

The walking with the lanterns and the spit wad war are somewhat like a reenactment of a long ago tradition celebrating the birth of the Virgin Mary.

This link has the story behind the festival. Its an odd story creating this fun parade.

http://www.visitflorence.com/florence-events/rificolona-festival.html

It was great following the parade to find out it leads to a party at the the end of my street! The parade marches until the Piazza Santissima Annunziata, a block from my apartment. It is a big square which was filled with candy stands, balloons, and more lanterns. There were several speakers and more performers.

Spit wads in my hair, running around giggling children, floating happy lanterns, and the funnest music I guess sums up the parade. It wasn't anything like the U.S.; an entire town marching, dancing, and laughing together at night to celebrate a long ago tradition. It was so great!

Sienna

Oh, just getting more class credit for visiting amazing places in Italy.

All of the Italian men always want to "take you to Sienna." We were wondering what possibly this place must be like; romance capital of the world? or rape capital? Luckily, I found it to be the most beautiful town, built from the most fantastic morals and beliefs. It is a gorgeous place of sacred background. Perhaps next time I will let the next offering man take me to Sienna ;-).


These first three pictures are of the main Cathedral in Sienna. They don't do a 100th of the justice to the true beauty the building deserves.

From the entrance to the alter on both sides are bust sculptures of all past popes with scorning faces to remind you of your sins and to cleanse yourself as reaching the alter. Every pope extremely intricate and labeled.

The dark marble all inside was unexpected from the sparkling white outside, but it was magnificent. The pillars surely remind me of beetlejuice. Even the floors were intricately decorated of marble designs.

To say the least it was truly the most immaculate place I have ever of visited. The intricacy and beauty of everything was so unreal, so intense that I cried.

The stairs leading to this area are believed to be a sacred ground where a miracle was taken place. There is a small cross on the step believed to be left there after the miracle. People rub it in wishes of their own little miracles to happen. I think its working for me. I have been very fortunate. =)


These are just some other pictures of the glorious Sienna. So when an Italian says "Let me take you to Sienna!" Definitely say yes!

Sienna also has two major horse races every year called the Palio. To be the winner is an extreme honor! The town is separated into many different groups (contradas) who build themselves up all year for this battle. Its an incredibly aggressive, wild race. The racers and viewers become brutal to each other for the sake of winning and supporting their contradas.

One year an opposing team poisoned the winning
teams celebration dinner, sending everyone to the hospital!

After that we went to the Sienna Designer Outlet Stores. Designer clothes at 70% discount but still hitting prices of 800 euro for a skirt. So... I didn't find much. I bought a pair of Alexander Mcqueen tights for 25 euro. I felt a beautiful pair from the magnificent, passed away designer of so much inspiration was allowed.

What a magnificent day!

Next week is Paris for 5 days including trade shows, designer presentations, and everything
else France offers!

Dream Dream Dream Dream Dream Dream!