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 plentyof 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!
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