Calendimaggio ~ Parte de Sotto

I almost forgot!

The winner of the 2010 Calendimaggio was

Parte de Sotto

(lower Assisi)

for the 3rd year in a row!

Parte de Sopra,

next year it's all you!!!

Good luck!

Calendimaggio ~ Assisi at Night

Wrapping up Calendimaggio ... I thought I would share how beautiful the festival is at night. These first few photos are of the "back streets" where no one but the participants and judges can go. It's all very authentic ... no electric lights ... even our hotel which was a few hundred feet down the road was only burning candles in the lobby!

I made friends with a sweet young Italian security guard and after 45 minutes chatting about "Lost" and how they would end the television series, he snuck me in after the judges and performers had left. It was so beautiful ... there were candles and lanterns and straw strewn all over the ground. "Parte de Sotto" had set up a whole medieval market place with chickens and pigs and carts, with everything from food to pottery. It was like I had stepped over a threshold into the past. It was like a dream.

The last night of the Calendimaggio festival, before the announcement of the winner of this years festival, there were night performances of medieval choirs, more costumed processions and stories and fables played out.

There had been more events durning the afternoon and we'd spent the early evening at the home of one of our new friends that lives in a converted old medieval pigsty with a view of the valley behind Assisi. From there we watched the sunset behind the old medieval "Rocca Maggiore" (fortress) that sits atop Assisi. It was enchanting.

We chatted with all of these interesting people who had moved to, or were staying for an extended time in Assisi. We had wine and fruit and cheeses, salads and desserts. Frankly, we were ready to fall asleep by the time the show started again at ... 10:30 maybe? It was, of course, "Italian time" so they were rather late getting things started!

It was amazing to see everything that went into a three day festival ... you can see all the time and energy and passion that goes into every moment, every detail. Passion and love.

There is no end.

There is no beginning.

There is only the passion of life.

~Federico Fellini

(Needless to say, I'm really glad I stayed awake!)

Kid's and Costumes ~ Calendimaggio 2010

Well, I guess I am on a theme this week with all the kids. I just decided to go with it!

One of the things that was so special about the Calendimaggio Festival in Assisi was seeing how the whole community was involved, including the kids! Moms and dad's and grandpas ... siblings and pals. It was so fun to watch their enthusiasm and joy, though some of the tiny ones didn't quite know what was going on and the drums were a little loud for others. They were all so cute, I just had to share!

"Children are the hands by which take hold of heaven."

~Henry Ward Beecher

Have a beautiful weekend my friends!

Fair Maidens ~ Calendimaggio Assisi

I know, yet another post of Calendimaggio! This is number 3 but I can't help myself and frankly, there will be a couple of more.

Aren't these girls adorable? Maybe next go round I'll be born in Assisi. :)

Gather experiences.

Treat them as precious jewels...

Having experiences is called living.

Sharing experiences is called loving.

Let yourself enjoy both.

~Melody Beattie

from Journey to the Heart

This girl with the flowers (below) is the "Madonna Primavera" who got chosen by the Parte de Sotto because they won two out of the three medieval games. (A tug of war, a treggia race, and the crossbow.) I believe the young man who won crossbow got to choose his fair maiden. Romantic right?

Have a beautiful weekend!

Calendimaggio ~ Medieval Stories Come to Life

Friday: Day Two of Calendimaggio

Did I mention they act out medieval stories? This was my absolute favorite and was "produced" by the Parte de Sopra.

With my lack of knowledge of the Italian language (with the exception of being able to order "vino rosso" and ridiculous amounts of food) this is what I got from this particular story. The maiden is sick and dying. Her family is there, then the clergy comes, then the apothecaries ... then finally the women with the herbs show up, do their thing and save the day! (Of course, I mean, was there ever any doubt?!) They all rejoice and dance and it is a beautiful celebration of life, spring and a fabulous reason to have a party ... I mean, festival.

I could be wrong, but let's go with that version!

Calendimaggio 2010

Do not cease to drink beer,

to eat,

to intoxicate thyself,

to make love,

and to celebrate the good days.

~Egyptian Proverb

More Assisi and Calendimaggio to come!!