An ancient tradition that takes place every year. Easter in Florence is synonymous with the explosion of the cart (“Scoppio del carro”). A staged ceremony in the heart of the city that gives pride of place to a large decorated cart and a rocket in the form of a dove that holds a tiny olive branch in its beak. During the celebrations for the resurrection of Christ, a small dove full with explosives is lit and made to run along a cable that connects the choir of the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral with a cart positioned outside the church, which, having being dredged with powder block, bursts into flames among the applause of the crowds. A custom that has its roots in the distant past. According to historic sources, this curious custom may date back to the first crusade, from which Pazzino Ranieri de’ Pazzi returned triumphantly with highly
precious plunder: three flints of the holy sepulchre.
Initially kept by the Pazzi family, the flints were used to create the burning of the “new fire”, an Easter symbol of rebirth, which was distributed among Florentine families to light the domestic hearth as a sign of good fortune after having been blessed by the bishop. The flints were then transferred into the church of Santa Maria sopra Porta, which was closed in 1785, and then moved to the church of Santi Apostoli, in Piazza del Limbo, where they still remain today. The “sacred fire” was loaded onto a cart and taken into the homes of Florentine families. With the passing of the centuries, the custom of “giving” the flames was replaced by the fascinating firework show of the cart and its dove.
(Portions of this article first appeared in "Toscana & Chianti News")
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