September 4, 2023

The Feast of Rificolona in Florence

Colourful lanterns fill the city on Tuesday 7 September

The origin of this magical feast of the Rificolona is all Florentine and has been handed down among the boys of Florence the custom of carrying around coloured paper lanterns, modelled in the most varied and bizarre shapes, with a small light inside, hanging from the top of a cane, dates back in all probability to the mid-seventeenth century, and is linked to the arrival in the city of many farmers and mountain dwellers who, with their women, They came to the city to celebrate the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in the Basilica of Santissima Annunziata in Florence, taking advantage of the occasion to sell their wares at the market fair held the next day in the square in front of the Basilica, in Via dei Servi and in the immediate vicinity.

In order to find a good place to sell their wares, these settlers would leave their homes long beforehand and, at night, would light up their uncertain path with lanterns of various shapes hanging from sticks, canes or poles. And it was with these multicoloured paper or cloth lanterns, open at the top to allow the candle or tallow from the bowl to burn, that they arrived in Florence the evening before the fair, bivouacking at night in the loggias of the church of Santissima Annunziata and the other buildings in the square where, by the flickering light of their lanterns, they sang lauds to the Virgin until late at night.

There are numerous events to celebrate the feast of the Rificolona in Florence on 7 September.

At around 2.30 p.m., starting from the Sanctuary of Impruneta, the procession travels sixteen kilometres to arrive in Florence, in Piazza Santissima Annunziata for the celebration of the Feast as is customary every year.
10-11 a.m. - BiblioteCaNova Isolotto - Nati per Leggere: Readings under the oak tree and workshop for building a Rificolona (Spazio Zero: Thursdays at the Canova Cultural Centre). New appointment with "Isolottovolante" and the cycle of meetings for children "Letture sotto la quercia".
From 5 p.m. - Social Club, Via della Casella - Festa della Rificolona: 5 p.m. - Snack; to follow - apericena
6-8.30 p.m.: La Rificolona (Spazio Zero: Thursdays at the Canova Cultural Centre): Workshop on the construction of beautiful rificolona and final parade in the garden. From age 3.
From 6.00 pm: La Rificolona del Gasometro di San Frediano: 6-7.30 pm - rafficolona construction and pop-up workshops for children organised by Cooperativa L'Abbaino and Fondazione Angeli del Bello, while materials last. There will be free admission activities; 7.30-9.00 p.m. - La Nuova Pippolese in concert, touring the park; 9-10.30 p.m. - Music for all ages, with Luca Lux, Circolo Culturale Età Libera, free ice cream for children in the neighbourhood at the Circolo; 9.30-11.30 p.m. - Dj Set Red Moon Santarosa Bistrot, Giant Goose Game, organised by the Florence Solidarity Centre.
From 6 pm rificolona party in Rifredi with aperitif, crepes and music. Appointment with CCN DALMAZIA from 6 p.m. at the Sms Rifredi gardens.
From 6 p.m. onwards, Scandicci celebrates and for the occasion all the shops in the Città Futura natural shopping centre are open until 11 p.m. Children's entertainment is scheduled from 6.00 pm; at 9.00 pm a parade of the rificolone from Piazza Resistenza to Piazza Togliatti and back, with the participation of the Filarmonica Bellini and the artists from the En Piste circus school; from 9.30 pm children's entertainment continues in Piazza Resistenza.
From 6.30pm - Garden of the Casa del Popolo di Ponte a Greve, Via Pisana 809 - Festa della Rificolona. Games and music for young and old. Each child will be given a rificolona offered by the Associazione il Ponte. At the end of the evening: Giropizza, drink and dessert (adults €13, children €10 with compulsory reservation). Tel. 055/780700.
From 6.30pm - Circolo Pensionati Isolotto (ex Baracche Verdi), Via delle Mimose 8 - Let's celebrate the Rificolona with music and lots of fun: 6.30pm-8pm - Penne al sugo del Circolo; 8pm - Ice cream for all the children; 9pm - Procession of the Rificolone from the Circolo to the Churchyard for the traditional blessing of the Rificolone.
From 8 p.m. - Circolo Ricreativo Culturale Il Boschetto, Via di Soffiano, 11 - Festa della Rificolona: 8 p.m. - Parade by the sports club Asd Il Boschetto; 9 p.m. - Parade of the Rificolona; 9.30 p.m. - Performance by our champions; to follow - Award ceremony for the most beautiful Rificolone and baby dance for all.