The Float Burst in Florence
Author: SerenaA nice Tuscan tradition that occurs every year on Easter is the “Float Burst” (Scoppio del Carro).
This tradition dates back to the 1099 first Crusade when, after a long siege, the soldiers succeeded in conquering Jerusalem receiving as a gift three stone chips belonging to the Christ’s Holy Sepulchre. These chips were then preserved in Florence in 1101.
According to the legend, these three stones were used to produce a spark (symbol of Easter life) that was distributed to local families to light their fireplaces as a sign of the Holy Ghost in honour of The Christ’s Resurrection.
Every Easter Sunday a XVIII century float, ornamented with flowers and drawn by oxen, parades through the urban streets.
The float drawn by oxen
The oxen decorated with flowers
During the midday mass, at the hallelujah moment, the archbishop lights a dove shaped rocket that runs along the steel thread that connects the altar to the float full of fireworks.
The moment of the Float Burst
According to tradition the good or bad future of Florence depends on the successful or failed arrival of the dove to the float.
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