One of the most important Florentine traditions occurs on the 6th of January, the day of the Epiphany. This feast was organized the first time in 1297 to celebrate the laying of the first stone of the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral.

According to the tradition, this celebration dates back to the XII century when there was an acting company that organized a reconstruction called the Magi’s cavalcade: it was made up by three different parades that used to join in front of the Baptistery in order to go on towards the San Marco Basilica where they adored baby Jesus with sings and prayers.

Today this tradition occurs during the Epiphany day and it is made up by the Magi and by a parade in costume that starts from Piazza Pitti and arrives to Piazza della Signoria where there is the flagger troupe’s performance. They finally arrive to Piazza Duomo where there is the ceremony of the offers to baby Jesus.

The Magis offer to baby Jesus

The Magi's offer to baby Jesus

 

The flagger troupe’s performance

The flagger troupe’s performance



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  • The Cantata dei Pastori (the Shepherds’ Cantata)


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