The Festival of the Lanterns is said to be one of Florence's oldest festivals, and has its origins in the most important farmers market of the year, held in the Piazza of SS Annunziata. The farmers and their families would get up very early, put on their Sunday-best clothes and walk to Florence by the light of candles held in tissue-paper lanterns on the end of poles. The sophisticated Florentines would mock the dull yokels attempt at elegance and the children would make their own brightly colored lanterns and follow along, jeering and whistling. Today, the children off Florence running through the streets with their rificolone, and there are street parties, theatre and a huge market in the square.

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• Nove de Firenze