Casa Verde Blog

This was an interesting experience in Florence on Easter Day.  This event has apparently occured outside the duomo for more than five centuries.  The object exploding in the picture is a medievil ‘cart’, normally used I think to carry arms to the battlefield.  However in this case it is armed with fireworks.  After the Easter Day service at around 11 am, the Cardinal comes out from the Cathedral and blesses the cart.  Then something comes flying from the west front and ignites the cart.    Then begins a 10 minute show of light and even more noticably, noise.  There seemed to be about 10,000 people in and around the square to witness something that has happened since 1494, when the Medicis (who else) wanted to make a show at Easter.  The 3 flints for the fire were apparently given in 1099 from the church of the holy sepulchre in Jerusalem as a gift to Pazzino de Pazzi, a Florentine, for capturing the city at the end of the first crusade.  The fireworks are a symbol and celebration of the resurrection.

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