Calendimaggio

Not long after Easter in Assisi is Calendimaggio, a traditional celebration of spring.  Many Assisians dress in period costumes and participate in the festivities, which include singing, parades and competitions.  Not to worry if clouds appear, the main street is covered.

Pre-Calendimaggio actvities include bows and beauty.  First, the bows, or rather crossbows, precise instruments, with fine crafted wood and even steel cables. 

The Parte de Sopra (upper town) squares off against the Parte de Sotto (lower town) in a competition of accuracy.  But first, a parade!

The archers make their way into the large piazza in front of the Basilica of Saint Clare.

A closer look as they come around to where the competition will begin.  The targets can be seen about forty or fifty yards away.

The accompanying marchers step back. 

The Parte de Sopra lines up to await their turns. (note - by fate or fortune we live in a Parte de Sopra neighborhood.  We cheer for the others at the risk of losing our lease :-)

At last, the competition is underway.

The competitors shot with amazing accuracy.

Hitting those small, distant white targets, sometimes in the center.

Time to move to other kinds of bows, from arrows to a rose (sorry), to a pageant of beauty.

The contestants are presented.

 Parte de Sopra on the left, Parte de Sotto on the right. (Don't you prefer the pastels to the red?)

Following the pageant, people prepare for another parade.

This flag is the symbol of the Parte de Sopra.

The parade continues with music.

And wonderful costumes.

More flags.

 Some serious drumming.

Didn't need those umbrellas after all.

Ciao.