Rites of passage
Leave the nylon shell suit in the attic this Easter Sunday, unless you want to go up in a puff of smoke. In Florence, the ancient tradition of Scoppio del Carro, or the “Explosion of the Cart” takes place each year outside the cathedral, and does exactly what it says on the tin — a 10m-high cart is loaded with fireworks and, well, explodes when ignited by a mechanical white dove on a zip wire. The story goes back to the First Crusade of 1099, when Pazzino di Ranieri de Pazzi received three holy flints as a reward for hoisting the Christian banner over Jerusalem. Back in Florence, the stones were used to kindle a holy fire that was distributed to homes around the city at Easter. These days, beady-eyed Florentines are said to watch the cart until the last firework has exploded. If it burns brightly until the end, it symbolises a good year ahead!
Comments
Post a new comment