Coolintown

Lo Scoppio del Carro/Explosion of the Carriage

When: Easter Sunday at noon
Where: Piazza Santa Maria del Fiore (Right in front of the Duomo in Cathedral Square)

Every Easter Sunday at noon the city of Florence celebrates the Explosion of the Carriage (Scoppio del Carro), a traditional Easter event.
This famous Florentine ceremony dates back to the First Crusade that was launched to save the Holy Sepulchre from unfaithful hands.
The carriage that dates back to the 18th century and is pulled by 4 white oxen that parade the carriage from Porta al Prato, where it is kept the rest of the 364 days of the year, to Piazza Santa Maria del Fiore (Cathedral Square). The carriage parade is made up of an elaborate celebration of people in traditional costumes, trumpet players, and flag wavers.
At a certain moment in the middle of Easter Sunday Mass the Archbishop lights a rocket in the shape of a dove that is connected by a steel cord to the carriage in the square. The rocket ignites the carriage and it explodes.
According to popular legend, if the dove's route encounters any obstacles before reaching the carriage it is an omen of bad luck. In medieval times it meant that the harvest would be scarce for the following year.

Festa del Grillo/Cricket Festival

When: The Sunday after the day of the Ascension
Where: Cascine Park

In late April or Early May depending on when the Sunday after the Ascension falls the Festa del Grillo or the cricket festival is held in the Cascine Park where crickets are sold in colorful, hand woven cages.
The people of Florence believe that the song of the cricket brings luck and the days leading up to the festival children hunt for crickets to cage them. After the festival the children release their crickets to secure good luck for the entire year.

Calcio Storico

When: Festivities end June 24th
Where: Piazza Santa Croce

One of the most popular and well-known games from Florence is the Calcio Storico. 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 colored costumes. Two teams of 27 players each, play for an hour for the cheering crowds.

Fochi di San Giovanni/
Fireworks for the Festival of Saint John the Baptist

When: 24th of June
Where: Festivities happen throughout the city

The patron saint of Florence is Saint John the Baptist and for centuries Florence has celebrated the birth of Saint John the Baptist with celebrations and amazing fireworks displays. Festa di San Giovanni is celebrated on the 24th of June which also marks the last day of the Calcio Storico. Be sure to watch the festival’s grand firework display that begins around 10pm.

Pitti Immagine

When:
Pitti Man and Woman : November and June

Pitti Casa: January-February

Pitti Pelle: September and February
Pitti Fragrance: September

Where:
Fortezza da Basso
Viale Filippo Strozzi 1
50129 Firenze

For fifty years, Pitti Immagine has been an international window for Italian fashion, a reference point for the development of the Made in Italy industry in the world. Pitti Immagini is made up of five different fashion shows: Pitti Immagine for Man and Woman, Children, Fabric, and Fragrances.

Befana/Epiphany

When: January 6th

La Befana is one of Italy's oldest and most celebrated legends. Each year on January 6 the children of Italy awaken in hopes that La Befana has made a visit to their house. This is a significant day to Italians because it marks the end of the Christmas season and the day that the three Wise Men arrived at the manger of the Christ child.

La Rificolona

When: September 7th
Where: Piazza Santissima Annunziata and throughout the city of Florence

The 'Festival of the Lanterns' is said to be one of Florence's oldest festivals. On September 7th, the day before the nativity of the Virgin, the children of Florence come out into the streets in their Sunday best, singing songs and carrying papier-mâché lanterns tied to the ends of sticks, called rificolone.
The legends surrounding the famous Festa della Rificolona twinkle in and out like the rificolone themselves. There are many interesting myths surround this colorful festival, but its true origins date back to ancient times when farmers would travel to the city to celebrate the Feast of the Madonna. The farmers would dress in the best they had bringing their wares and produce as part of the festivities to be sold in an open market. To get a vantage position to sell their goods, the farmers and their families started their journey to the city before dawn. As they had to cross a great distance in the wee hours of the morning, they made lanterns with canvas or paper to light their way. The origin of the name of the festival stems from the word ‘fierucolone’ which over time evolved into ‘rificolona’ in dialect that describes a woman who is over dressed or who dresses in poor taste. With the farmers and the villagers coming into the city to earn money before winter, both their outfits and their lanterns would be ridiculed by the children of Florence who would shoot at the lanterns with their blowguns.
The Festa della Rificolona is full of fun and frolic with both adults and children with clappers and whistles walking along the streets aiming at the lanterns with pea shooters causing the lanterns to burst into flames.