The Scoppio del Carro

The Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart), which takes place each year on the morning of Easter Sunday, has its origins in the First Crusade.

In 1097, Pazzino de' Pazzi, a member of one of the leading families in Florence, was the first man to scale the walls of Jerusalem. As a reward for this act of bravery, he was given three flints from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Pazzi returned home with the three flints and donated them to the Church of Santi Apostoli, where they are to this day.

It soon became the practice, at Easter, for a "holy fire" to be struck from the flints. The fire was carried through the streets of the city by groups of young men bearing torches. 
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Over time, this tradition evolved into something similar to what we see today. A cart bearing a large candle was rolled through the city to the cathedral, from where the holy fire would be distributed.

By the end of the 15th century, the Scoppio del Carro had assumed its present form.

On the morning of Easter Sunday, an ancient cart, in use for over 500 years and known as the Brindellone,, is hauled by a team of four white oxen from the Porta al Prato to the Piazza del Duomo. The oxen are festooned with garlands of spring flowers and the cart is escorted by musicians and crowds of people in 15th century costume.

Meanwhile, at the church of Santi Apostoli, the historic flints are used to strike a fire, which is carried in procession to the cathedral by members of the Pazzi family, clerics, and city officials.

The cart is duly loaded with fireworks, while a wire, stretching to the high altar inside the cathedral, is fitted with a mechanical dove (the "colombina"). 

Easter Mass is then celebrated in the church. At the singing of the Gloria in excelsis Deo, the Archbishop of Florence lights a fuse in the colombina with the 'holy' fire. The dove then speeds through the church to ignite the fireworks outside.

A successful explosion is supposed to guarantee a good harvest.

Scoppio del Carro