On 24 June Florence celebrates San Giovanni, the Patron and protector: the celebrations end in the evening with the fireworks from Piazzale Michelangelo, which illuminate the city from above, creating a suggestive scenario.
If you spend Easter in Florence you can not miss “The Explosion of the Cart”, an event from the 16th or 17th century which has never been interrupted. In the morning a parade with people in Renaissance costume takes the wooden cart, a sort of adorned and coloured tower, along the streets of the city, to Piazza del Duomo. A rope is placed from the square to the high altar of the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore, through the central nave. After mess a small rocket with the "dove", a figure representing hope and peace, is set off. The Florentines hope that the dove "flies" along the line to the cart, setting off a mechanism of fireworks. If everything goes as it should, it means that it will be a good year and the Florentines can start celebrating.
A typical Florentine event, as it is not known in any other Italian city, is the Rificolona which is held on 7 September. It has religious origins, as it basically is a procession dedicated to the Madonna. But during the centuries, it has become a festival for children. The girls carry the "rifocolone" (colourful and extravagant paper lanterns with a lightened candle inside) in procession. The "rificolone" set on 1 ½ metre long staves are carried in procession: the boys traditionally armed with pea-shouters and paper staves, today more probably with tile plaster, try to hit the candle in order to put the "rificolona" on fire.
But the girls have become more and more cleaver, putting a electrical lamp instead of the candle inside! The funniest part of the event is to make the Rifocolona by yourself, with some paper and glue and lots of creativity and a fantasy: especially for the youngest kids.